....-=:$$&                                          &$$:=-....
...-=:$$&@                                          @&$$:=-...
..-=:$$&@#                                          #@&$$:=-..
.-=:$$&@##                                          ##@&$$:=-.
..-=:$$&@#                                          #@&$$:=-..
...-=:$$&@                  ==$@==                  @&$$:=-...
....-=:$$&                ==$    $==                &$$:=-....
.....-=:$$              ==$  life  $==              $$:=-.....
......-=:$                ==$    $==                $:=-......
.......-=:                  ==@$==                  :=-.......
........-=                                          =-........
.........- = = $  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                         $:=-......
.....-=:$$ - life can be cursed                     $$:=-.....
....-=:$$&                                          &$$:=-....
...-=:$$&@                                          @&$$:=-...
..-=:$$&@#                                          #@&$$:=-..
.-=:$$&@##                                          ##@&$$:=-.
..-=:$$&@#                                          #@&$$:=-..