A longitudinal study that has kept track of a group of then-Harvard students since 1937 suggests having loving relationships is the key to happiness.Over their lifetimes, the 266 male participants, including John F. Kennedy, were given regular medical and psychological checkups, returned questionnaires, and sat for interviews.
Intense analysis of this unusual cache of information has allowed psychiatrist George Vaillant, who has been in charge of the study for the last 40 years, to conclude "Happiness is love. Full stop."
Which is greeting-card nice. But wouldn't it have been a lot more interesting if Vaillant had discovered "happiness is spite," or "happiness is occasionally dressing up like a woman." We think so.
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With the amount of love we feel for all these ladies in classic pin-up posters, we may live in happiness forever.
50 Most Memorable Pin-ups
50. Shakira -- In almost any language, Shakira translates into "astounding abs." What's the origin of this six-pack wonder? Shakira fell in love with performing when her father took her to a Middle Eastern restaurant and she discovered belly dancing. (We only mention that detail to help you imagine Shakira belly dancing. It makes the poster even better.) Pin-ups, Pinups
myposters.com
49. Lisa Hartman -- Best known these days as Mrs. Clint Black, this Texas cutie burst onto the scene in 1976's "Tabitha," a TV series about the grown-up witch-child of Samantha and Darren Stevens from "Bewitched." She's bewitching, all right, and laying it all on the table. Pin-ups, Pinups
myposters.com
48. Tila Tequila -- What you don't know about Tila: her real name is Tila Nguyen, she was born in Singapore, and was once in a girl gang. What you do know: back before she "found love" on MTV, she held the record for the most MySpace friends ever (1.5 million and counting). And chances are every one of them had this poster. Pin-ups, Pinups
myposters.com
47. Cheryl Ladd -- Cheryl Ladd may forever be known as Farrah Fawcett's stand-in from "Charlie's Angels," but as soon as she was on the show she proved her cleavage could stand on its own. Nowadays, she spends more time golfing than acting, leaving the latter to her daughter, Jordan Ladd (who appeared in "Grindhouse" and has definitely inherited some of the DNA Chery's exhibits here. (Image from postershop.ch.) Pin-ups, Pinups
myposters.com
46. Mariah Carey -- While this pop superstar's music polarizes people, can't we all agree on the booty? Time to hold hands. (Image from adrants.com) Pin-ups, Pinups
myposters.com
45. Charlene Tilton -- You can see the talent of a former Hollywood High cheerleader blazing through Charlene Tilton's bikini in this shot. If you're under the age of 25, you may not realize she once starred as Lucy Ewing in the TV series "Dallas." Her talents will be sorely missed in upcoming movie version. (Image from imageshack.us.) Pin-ups, Pinups
myposters.com
44. Loni Anderson -- Peroxide blonde hair? Check. Feathered and blown-dried? Check. Absurd, multi-colored backdrop? Double-check. Oh yes, we have all the ingredients of an early-'80s scorcher. Once, Loni was the toast of "WKRP in Cincinnati" and then Mrs. Burt Reynolds. She may now be the faded punchline of "Love Boat" episodes, yet in this poster she's still a Technicolor dream. Pin-ups, Pinups
myposters.com
43. Alyssa Milano -- The second "Poison Ivy" movie represented that moment when Alyssa transformed from goodie-two-shoes child star to budding sexpot. Sure, she made plenty of cinematic missteps along the way -- including the vaguely erotic "Deadly Sins." Then she posed for this poster -- and we immediately forgave everything. Pin-ups, Pinups
myposters.com
42. Heather Thomas -- The good news: This poster had no room for Heather Thomas' notable co-star from "The Fall Guy" -- Lee Majors aka the Six-Million Dollar Man. The less-than-good news: This hot poster is as much skin we'll ever see from Ms. Thomas, who said, "I won't take my clothes off because I can't believe it's necessary. You can be sexy with your clothes on just as well as you can by taking off your blouse." Pin-ups, Pinups
myposters.com
41. Lita Ford -- How did '80s rock-chick Lita Ford sell more than 100 million records? Maybe it was her hot licks that could match any hair-metal god's. Maybe it was an armory full of Aqua Net. Or maybe it was a slew of posters like this one. Pin-ups, Pinups
myposters.com
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Comments:
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Monday 18 May
By Mike
The people who actually needed a scientific study to tell them that love is the key to happiness must be frigid and void of sentiment (an oblivious to the thousands of our ancestors have been saying this). I feel sorry for them, it's hard for me to accept the fact that there actually are people who don't know what love is; who don't know what it feels like to have friends, family, maybe some pets or a deity that knows every detail about you, accepts you as you are that you can all be grateful to co-exist with within this universe.
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Wednesday 20 May
By Lisa
Your comment about feeling badly for people who require an empirical study to substantiate what is Truth does seem valid at first, in my opinion-kind of like what the Bible refers to "happy are those who believe without seeing".
But sadly, there are many people who don't get that notion early on due to lack of necessary bonding - not really their fault but what their primary caregiver(s) present to them or don't as the case may be. However, I don't think that a study on love would bring this group any closer to believing or buying into the notion of love, because it still would not teach them what they're missing, how to identify love or how to give it to others.
In my humble opinion from prior experience both as a professional and personally, both compassion and emotional detachment are required to deal with folks in this category without getting burned yourself.
I especially appreciated your comment about the Deity who "knows every detail about you". That's where I get my peace - and I agree it is gratifying to have people who do want to share this universe with me.
Just a thought (or two). I wish you the best!
Monday 18 May
By boredwell
But JFK wasn't looking for love, was he? Ok, maybe I'm wrong. What do you say to that one, Dr Valliant?
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Monday 18 May
By Cecil Jones
How many of these "Harvard Grads" were in lust instead of love? We lust for money, companionship, and lost souls. All of them resemble love, but are they unconditional? At your ugliest moment, when you are the most vulnerable or guilty, can someone love you? This is the key to happiness. You know you have been judged at your worst and you are still worthy. How can you not give everything to someone who loves like that and pray they continue to love you. Love is not guaranteed to last. You've got to earn it.
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Monday 18 May
By linda
Jolie may be beautiful on the outside but she is majorly flawed on the inside.
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Monday 18 May
By Gina
So, loving relationships are the key to happiness? DUH!!!
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Tuesday 19 May
By carol
Do these so called experts think they deserve to get paid to come up with these conclusions. They keep regurgitating the same old crap every few years and spend our money on these mindless studies. They shouldn't be given a forum for their stupid indulgences. Why don't they come up with real solutions for a change. Why not work on real issues facing us today.The Animal Kingdom has an idea about how important loving relationships are. Acedemics could spend their time better coming up with ideas and studies on the problems and cures for our addictions in this culture.
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