&$^^......                                          ......^^$&
&&$^^.....                                          .....^^$&&
#&&$^^....                                          ....^^$&&#
@#&&$^^...                                          ...^^$&&#@
#@#&&$^^..                                          ..^^$&&#@#
##@#&&$^^.                  »»&#»»                  .^^$&&#@##
#@#&&$^^..                »»&    &»»                ..^^$&&#@#
@#&&$^^...              »»&  life  &»»              ...^^$&&#@
#&&$^^....                »»&    &»»                ....^^$&&#
&&$^^.....                  »»#&»»                  .....^^$&&
&$^^......                                          ......^^$&
$^^....... » »  & a multitude of definitions &  » » .......^^$
^^........ »   &    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  &  » ........^^
$^^....... » » &  entails,  how  it  should  & »  » .......^^$
&$^^...... »   &   be   measured,   who  or   &   » ......^^$&
&&$^^..... &    what     is    the    arbiter,    & .....^^$&&
#&&$^^.... »   &   and   so   instead   there  &  » ....^^$&&#
@#&&$^^... »   »   &   is    this   internationally ...^^$&&#@
#@#&&$^^.. sanctioned      list      &     »      » ..^^$&&#@#
##@#&&$^^. »  »  »  » &  of  criteria  &  » »  »  » .^^$&&#@##
#@#&&$^^..                                          ..^^$&&#@#
@#&&$^^... - life must produce or consume milk      ...^^$&&#@
#&&$^^.... - life must have a beginning and an end  ....^^$&&#
&&$^^..... - life can have dreams and can interact  .....^^$&&
&$^^...... - life can steal                         ......^^$&
$^^....... - life can be cursed                     .......^^$
^^........                                          ........^^
^.........                                          .........^
..........                                          ..........
..........                                          ..........
..........                                          ..........