"The great aim of education is not knowledge, but action."

Herbert Spencer

In today's Law Firm Marketing, Is e-mail marketing dead?

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• Top News

Lawsuit in NYC vs China, Baidu asks $17.44 mln

Eight New York residents who accused the Chinese government and Baidu.com Inc of censoring their pro-democracy writings on Wednesday asked a US judge for a $17.44 million default judgment. The plaintiffs had contended in a lawsuit filed last May that China and Baidu, that country's biggest Internet search company, conspired to suppress their speech in violation of the US Constitution and various civil and human rights laws. Legal experts at the time called the case a stretch, noting China's defense that a US court cannot tell a sovereign country what to do, and that Baidu was unlikely to be held responsible for censorship. According to papers filed Wednesday in the US District Court in Manhattan, where the lawsuit had been brought, the writers believe the defendants should be held in default for having failed to accept legal papers when they were served.

Military judge denies motion to dismiss Wikileaks trial

Army Col. Denise Lind refused Wednesday to dismiss Espionage Act charges against Pfc. Bradley Manning for allegedly transferring vast amounts of classified information to Wikileaks. The ruling will allow the discovery hearing to continue with the official trial scheduled to begin in September. Manning's defense argues that many others had access to his workplace computers in Iraq, he never should have been deployed to Iraq or entrusted with confidential information because he is emotionally troubled since he was barred from openly serving as a gay man, and the leaks did not hurt US national security. He has also filed a separate motion to dismiss the most serious charge, aiding the enemy, which could carry a sentence of life imprisonment.

A totally wired world leaves us oddly disconnected

Thanks to Twitter, Facebook, Skype, mobile phones, chat, instant messages and countless other tech advances, we're more connected than ever — theoretically, at least. But all too often, being totally wired leaves us oddly disconnected. Should you shoot off an email? Tap out a text? Post a private message on Facebook? Write on their Facebook wall? Skype, poke, ping or conjure them up on a digital tin can phone? And once you reach someone, you wonder: Is he paying attention? How do you know? Even with the techno-ease of countless communication devices, conversations can still be troublesome. Questions are asked and answered out of order. Instructions and directions go half-read. Meetings are botched. Feelings are hurt. Nowadays, you can reach out to touch someone and not even get close. Some folks don't check their phone messages. Some don't have answering machines on their home telephones. More and more people consider home phones, and land lines of any stripe, anachronistic. So how do you get in touch with someone? Symptomatic of the age we live in, technology offers hopeful solutions to problems caused by the very same technology. BlackBerrys, iPhones and other super smart devices are constantly being updated to knit many of our disparate communication methods into one easy-to-use gizmo or application — not so much a killer app as a healer app. But there are always other techno-advancements lurking in the wings. At MIT's Media Lab, for instance, researchers are developing communication devices for the living room that focus on "remote co-presence," allowing us to laugh and chat and "be together" regardless of where we are.

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• Crumbs

1 - Hundreds march against Arizona immigration law - click here.

2 - Coca-Cola recommends 2-for-1 stock split; shares at 14-year high - click here.

3 - Coco Rocha condemns Elle Brazil for violating her no-nudity policy - click here.

4 - N.Y. judge refuses to dismiss Brazilian kickback case - click here.

5 - US embassy faces legal action over Brazilian ex-prostitute hit by van - click here.

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• MiMIC Journal

US charges Taiwanese pair with 'China arms plot'

Two Taiwanese nationals have been charged with attempting to export US military technology to benefit the Chinese government. US undercover agents had been investigating the couple for suspected drugs trafficking since February 2011. But the pair allegedly went on to try to acquire and export arms technology, including a small drone plane. US authorities say the pair claimed to have been working for an assistant to a high-ranking Chinese official.

Blind Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng reportedly escapes from house arrest

Mystery surrounds one of China's best known dissidents, Chen Guangcheng, following reports that he has escaped from house arrest. Rights activists say he slipped out of his home in Dongshigu town in Shandong province on Sunday. His exact whereabouts cannot be verified at the moment but human rights campaigners said they believe he has fled from Shandong province. Activist He Peirong, who has been campaigning for his freedom, told various sources that she drove him to "a safe place" outside Shandong. There are also unconfirmed rumours that Chen, who is blind, is at the US Embassy in Beijing. The US embassy ''would not comment.''

Hong Kong to limit mainland China maternity services

Mainland women will be prevented from giving birth in Hong Kong unless they have a Hong Kong husband. While the proposal would only apply to public hospitals, private hospitals have also agreed to follow suit. Increasing "birth tourism" from the mainland has caused tensions. Soaring numbers of mainland women have sought to give birth in Hong Kong to ensure that their child receives Hong Kong citizenship.

• Law Firm Marketing

Is e-mail marketing dead?

by Tom Trush

If you knew there was an activity nearly all Internet users participate in when visiting websites, you'd be smart to offer that opportunity on your website, right?

According research released this week by eMarketer, a digital research and trend analysis company, this recurring activity is subscribing to e-mail lists.

More specifically, the data -- compiled from ExactTarget's report, Subscribers, Fans and Followers: The Social Break-Up -- shows 93% of U.S. Internet users subscribe to permission-based e-mail and get at least one e-mail a day as a result of their subscription activities.

When you combine this detail with ExactTarget's statement that 95% of U.S. online consumers use e-mail, you can understand why e-mail campaigns that complement your website content are so important.

The rapid rise of social media has led some to speculate e-mail is a dying medium. But this claim is far from accurate.

Sure, e-mail is like the old-fashioned grandfather of online marketing, while social media is the sexy supermodel.

But what permission-based e-mail marketing offers is personalized communication to consumers who want to hear from you. And, since e-mail use is so widespread, you know it's a comfortable communication medium for many people.

Furthermore, e-mail delivers an incredibly high return on investment -- as much as $43 for every $1 spent (as stated by the Direct Marketing Association).

Here are some quick tips for creating your next e-mail campaign:

• Reward your subscribers by delivering quality content.

• Establish a relationship and build trust before you pitch.

• Trigger involvement by encouraging subscribers to reply back to you with questions.

• Make sure your e-mails are formatted properly for mobile devices.

• Encourage subscribers to share your e-mails with other people.

• Automate some e-mails to save you time and deliver information based on your subscribers' interests.

• Test headlines, copy and offers in your e-mails to improve open rates and click-throughs.

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© Trey Ryder

FREE LAWYER MARKETING ALERT: If you'd like to receive Trey Ryder's weekly Lawyer Marketing Alert, send an e-mail to [email protected]. Write "Subscribe LMA" in the subject line and write your name and e-mail address in the body of the message.

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Cyber-security bill Cispa passes US House

The US House of Representatives has passed a cyber-security bill amid a veto threat from Obama. The Cispa - Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act, would allow the government to access web users' private data on suspicion of a cyber threat. It would also allow easier information-sharing between security agencies and private web firms. Advocacy groups claim that it is aimed at file-sharers rather than hackers. They also raised concerns about the transparency of the act. In a statement on Wednesday, the White House said Obama would veto the act if it reached his desk.

ACLU sues over expulsion of eighth graders for facebook posts about killing ugly classmates

The American Civil Liberties Union has filed a First Amendment lawsuit over the expulsion of three eighth grade girls who posted Facebook comments about which classmates they would like to kill. The suit says the posts were just "teenage banter" and should not have been taken seriously, report the Chicago Tribune, the Northwest Indiana Times, the Post-Tribune and a press release. The ACLU says the girls used smiley faces and abbreviations such as "LOL" to show they were joking, and posted the comments on their own time on their own electronic devices. UCLA law professor Eugene Volokh said that the school could punish threats, but exaggeration, hyperbole and jokes are protected speech.

Senate OKs renewal of domestic abuse law

The US Senate voted to renew a law designed to combat domestic abuse after Republicans stepped back from what was becoming a politically risky fight over some of the expansions they oppose. Democrats, seeking to appeal to women voters in November, argued that resistance to the expansions was evidence of what they call the Republicans' "war on women." Republicans denied that they oppose the law, accusing Democrats of purposely loading up the bill with hot-button political issues just to dare Republicans to oppose it in an election year. The bill would expand the law's funding and protections for same-sex couples, immigrants and tribal communities.

Taylor war crimes verdict praised

The indictment of Charles Taylor took war crimes jurisprudence to a new level, establishing the principle that a serving head of state was not immune from prosecution. Human rights groups have welcomed the guilty verdict against former Liberian leader Charles Taylor. The UN-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone in The Hague said he aided and abetted war crimes during the Sierra Leone civil war. Taylor, 64, has been on trial for almost five years. Taylor was accused of backing rebels who killed tens of thousands of people in Sierra Leone's 1991-2002 civil war. He was convicted on 11 counts including terror, murder and rape - but cleared of ordering the crimes. The judges were "prepared to reject the initial theories put forward by the prosecution" - notably the contention that Taylor was micro-managing events in Sierra Leone. Judge Lussick said that as Liberian leader, Taylor had extended "sustained and significant" support to the RUF - Revolutionary United Front rebels in neighboring Sierra Leone - by selling diamonds and buying weapons on behalf of the RUF - and knew the rebels were committing atrocities.

Netherlands to rule on cannabis

A judge in the Netherlands is set to decide whether tourists should be banned from entering Dutch cannabis cafes in a bid to cut cross-border crime. While soft drugs are tolerated, there is growing concern at tourists visiting just for drugs, and foreign dealers selling illegally at home. If the measure is approved Dutch residents will still be allowed into the cafes, as long as they have valid identification, or possibly hold a new "weed pass" which is also being debated. There are about 700 coffee shops, as they are called, in the Netherlands. The cultivation and sale of soft drugs through them is decriminalized, although not legal; police generally tolerate possession of up to five grams of cannabis.

Brazil's Congress approves controversial forest law

The Brazilian Chamber of Deputies has approved controversial legislation that eases rules on how much land farmers must preserve as forest. Brazil's powerful farmers' lobby argues that the changes will promote sustainable food production. But environmentalists say the new forest code will be a disaster and lead to further destruction of the Amazon.

Argentina Senate backs oil move

The Argentine Senate approves the nationalization of the oil company YPF, a subsidiary of Spanish firm Repsol, which has sparked a spat with the EU.

S&P reduces Spain's credit rating

The ratings agency Standard & Poor's has cut Spain's credit rating and warned of risks to come. S&P cut Spain two notches to BBB+, warning that the country could have to take on more debt to support its banking sector. It has also placed Spain on negative outlook, meaning there is a risk of further downgrades to come.

Pakistan high court convicts PM of contempt

The Supreme Court of Pakistan convicted Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani of contempt of court Wednesday for disobeying a court order to open corruption cases against President Asif Ali Zardari. The decision proscribed a symbolic punishment of "imprisonment till the rising of the Court today," and does not attach jail time nor remove Gilani from public office, which were potential penalties when charges were announced."

Kenya senior judges declared unfit

Kenya dismissed four senior judges on Wednesday after an independent board found that they lacked integrity and were incompetent. The men removed from their position were Riaga Omollo, the Chief of the Court of Appeals, Samuel Bosire, Emmanuel Okubasu and Joseph Nyamu. Five other judges were cleared of any suspicion in the proceedings. The investigative panel was set up in 2008 following post-election violence. Previous attempts to clean up the judiciary have failed and been seen as more political actions than anything else. The panel said that the judges were removed for incompetence and because they lacked impartiality. Some of them also admitted to taking bribes during their careers.

Credit card 'info for sale' websites closed in global raids

Dozens of websites offering credit card details and other private information for sale have been taken down in a global police operation. Britain's Soca - Serious Organized Crime Agency says raids in Australia, Europe, the UK and US are the culmination of two years of work. Credit card numbers or bank account details of millions of unsuspecting victims were sold for as little as $3.

US Tarp bailout fund likely to lose money

US taxpayers are unlikely to get all their money back from a $700bn bailout of the country's stricken banking and automotive sectors. The Troubled Asset Relief Program calmed markets and underpinned the US economy during the financial crisis. But despite the US Treasury saying last week that Tarp would make a profit, the latest report suggests otherwise. It was a "misconception that Tarp will make a profit".

• Daily Press Review

US agrees to Okinawa troop redeployment
Al Jazeera, Doha, Qatar

Syrian Grand Mufti says Arab Spring western plot
Asharq Al-Awsat, Pan-Arab daily, London, England

Israel army chief: Other nations could strike Iran
Egyptian Gazette, English-language, Cairo, Egypt

Israel ranks third in consumption of vegetables, sweets
Haaretz, Liberal daily, Tel Aviv, Israel

Egypt protects IDF memorial in Sinai from vandals
JPost, Conservative, Jerusalem, Israel

Hughes joins Hunt inquiry calls
BBC News, Centrist newscaster, London, England

Blind Chinese activist escapes from house arrest
CNN International, London, England

Galaxy boosts Samsung's fortunes
Daily Express, Conservative tabloid, London, England

New time-lapse video shows Freedom Tower built at Ground Zero in two minutes
Daily Mail, Conservative daily, London, England

BAZ BAMIGBOYE: Is Gwyn headed for Neverland?
Daily Mail, Conservative daily, London, England

Egypt unveils 13 candidates for presidential race
EuroNews, International news, Ecully Cedex, France

INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE: Taylor faces justice for Sierra Leone, but not at home
France 24, Issy-les-Moulineaux, France

Iran, sectarianism and proxy war
Hurriyet Daily News, (Liberal, English-language), Istanbul, Turkey

Bin Laden family is deported
Independent The, London, England

Rosneft inks deal with Italy's Eni
Moscow News The, Independent, Moscow, Russia

HMS Astute: Royal Navy's world-beating GBP 1.2bn nuclear submarine
Telegraph The, Conservative daily, London, England

Beyonce crowned 'world's most beautiful woman' as she reveals new DIY beauty regime
Telegraph The, Celebrity news, London, England

SET down 1.39 points midday
Bangkok Post, Independent, Bangkok, Thailand

Bin Laden's family deported from Pakistan to Saudi
China Post, English-language daily, Taipei, Taiwan

What Does Washington's 'Pivot to Asia' Policy Mean?
Chosun Ilbo, Conservative daily, Seoul, South Korea

Murdoch: hacking scandal changed my company
Hindustan Times, New Delhi, India

Allahabad University violence spills onto roads
India Times, Conservative daily, New Delhi, India

Explosions at Waki glue plant hurled 6-ton fragment 600 meters into river
Japan Times, Independent centrist, Tokyo, Japan

Taylor verdict sends 'accountability' message
New Zealand Herald, Conservative daily, Auckland, New Zealand

British Business Awards 2012 launched in Beijing
People's Daily Online, English-language, Beijing, China

US issues beef assurances after Indonesia ban
Straits Times, Pro-government, Singapore

KFC ordered to pay $8m
Sydney Morning Herald, Centrist daily, Sydney, Australia

Indonesia suspends U.S. beef imports for mad cow
Taiwan News, English-language daily, Taipei, Taiwan

Vedanta says full-year iron ore production drops
The Economic Times, Business, Mumbai, India

South Sudan 'aggression' condemned by Arab League
Canadian Broadcasting Centre, Toronto, Ontario

Canada's vital interest in free trade
Globe and Mail The, Centrist daily, Toronto, Canada

British Consumer Confidence Steady in April, Misses Forecasts
International Business Times, Business news organization, New York, U.S

Wiping the Iron Dust Off Their Feet in Small Brazilian Town
IPS Latin America, International cooperative of journalists, Rome, Italy

Shares edge up; Spain downgrade caps gains
Reuters, Business News, New York, U.S

Taliban website hacked as Afghan cyber war heats up
Reuters, World News, New York, U.S

Police who lie: False testimony often goes unpunished
Toronto Star, Toronto, Ontario

Taylor war crimes verdict praised
BBC News, Centrist newscaster, London, England

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