one of the most crucial things = moisture and temperature
The glass of water thing is good, when they can sink it means that water has permeated through the shell (this activates dormant enzymes)
When they go into the moist paper towels, if you can keep the temp at about 20 oC then they should crack open within hours. Id recomment getting an electric propogator, can get them for like $20. You can put the paper towels in there ontop of the heat mat, coz it will be the perfect temperature for seed germination and it will b constant, not like putting the seeds on a radiator or something, which i did earlier this year and someone put the heat up and almost cooked them all. Heat is crucial because enzymes have optimal working temperatures, and 20-25 oC should be perfect. Make sure the towels are always moist but not drenched under water. Once the shell cracks with the root then they can go straight under soil (about 2-3mm) under a propagation light ready for the leaves to pop up and have their first feed of rays
its all about mositure, darkness and temperature while in the paper towels, if u get these right u can germ seeds within hours