Email marketing is loosing steam, or is it?

According to a new survey by JupiterResearch, a growing preference for social networking, texting and cell phone communication — combined with disenchantment with e-mail proliferation and irrelevance — are starting to impact the effectiveness of permission-based e-mail marketing.
The percentage of online and offline purchases due to email persuasion has fallen by 7 %, and 6% [...]

Seth Godin’s triiibes.com is accepting members until the 10th

I haven’t been keeping this blog updated for an extended period of time, but now I am back on the blogging wagon. I would like to draw attention of all avid researchers and practitioners of social-media marketing to check out triiibes.com
Look me up if you join in.

why cover the eyes?

(source: via NPR website)
A government firing squad executes nine Kurdish rebels and two former police officers of the deposed Shah of Iran after summary trials, Aug. 27, 1979. The next day, another 21 Kurdish rebels and military deserters were executed.
WHY do executioners get the victims to cover their eyes?