*==:......                                          ......:==*
==:.......                                          .......:==
=:........                                          ........:=
:.........                                          .........:
..........                                          ..........
..........                  ==*@==                  ..........
..........                ==*    *==                ..........
:.........              ==*  life  *==              .........:
=:........                ==*    *==                ........:=
==:.......                  ==@*==                  .......:==
*==:......                                          ......:==*
**==:..... = = * a multitude of definitions *  =  = .....:==**
§**==:.... =   *   does   not   help.   we    *   = ....:==**§
@§**==:... *     can     say     "life     is     * ...:==**§@
#@§**==:.. =    *   what   we   are,   and   *    = ..:==**§@#
##@§**==:. =  =  *  what  things  like  us  *  =  = .:==**§@##
#@§**==:.. =   *   are",   but   then   we   *    = ..:==**§@#
@§**==:... *    must    also    define    what    * ...:==**§@
§**==:.... =  *  "things  like  us"  actually  *  = ....:==**§
**==:..... = =  * entails,  how  it  should  *  = = .....:==**
*==:...... =   *   be   measured,  who   or   *   = ......:==*
==:....... *    what    is    the    arbiter,     * .......:==
=:........ =  *  and   so   instead   there   *   = ........:=
:......... =    =   *   is   this   internationally .........:
.......... sanctioned      list      *     =      = ..........
.......... =  =  =  = * of  criteria  *  =  =  =  = ..........
..........                                          ..........
:......... - life must produce or consume milk      .........:
=:........ - life must have a beginning and an end  ........:=
==:....... - life can have dreams and can interact  .......:==
*==:...... - life can steal                         ......:==*
**==:..... - life can be cursed                     .....:==**
§**==:....                                          ....:==**§
@§**==:...                                          ...:==**§@
#@§**==:..                                          ..:==**§@#
##@§**==:.                                          .:==**§@##
#@§**==:..                                          ..:==**§@#