If your impatient, then plant them directly into a medium. The paper towel method actually slows things down.
Here is one of the best things I ever purchased for growing from seeds:
A heated propagator(tray, dome, heat mat) and root riot plugs.
Moisten plugs with ph 5.5-6.0 water, put seeds pointy end down in plugs, stick in heated propagator. Make sure they don't completely dry out. You will have a tap root sticking out of the bottom of the cub in 2-3days. It will sprout in less then 5-6. I have almost 100% success rate with the method, even from 2 year old bag seeds!
JMHO, and if your doing soil and just want to start it in that(assuming it's a starting mix with NO nutrients), I recommend using dixie cups with your mix and sticking in a tray with the dome and heat mat underneath. Water when almost completely dry.
Also, I believe you should have a light on from the time you put them in plug or other medium.
Why woud adding two atificial elements, total darkness and paper towels, help them know it's time to grow?
I think simulating the most natural envionment leads to healthy plants, a.k.a. right into a medium, add water, heat, and light, and watch the magic happen. Like I said, with the heated propagator I always have healthy sprouts in less then a week with healthy white roots emerging from the cube.