The Merger Is Complete: All Assets Secure – Why Ohio (and America) Cannot Talk Financial Stabilization Without Confronting Financialization and Returning to Real Production

The merger is complete. All assets are secure. That phrase has been echoing in my mind lately as I sit down with state leaders like Senator George Lang, the Ohio State Treasurer, and others in the growing movement here in the Buckeye State. We are not just talking about balancing budgets or tweaking tax policy anymore. We are staring down the barrel of a much deeper conversation—one that cannot happen in a vacuum. Preserving Ohio’s financial future, and by extension the country’s, demands we confront a natural byproduct of decades of drift into pure financial engineering: the dominance of financialization. It is the term that has surfaced repeatedly in our private discussions, and it is the invisible force that has warped our economy into something unrecognizable from the one the Founders envisioned.

Kevin Freeman, the author of Pirate Money: Discovering the Founders’ Hidden Plan for Economic Justice and Defeating the Great Reset, has laid out the principles that are now gaining traction. Under a potential Vivek Ramaswamy administration in 2026–2027—and with leaders like Senator Lang stepping forward—this idea is poised to evolve into policy. The core concept is straightforward yet revolutionary: states create a gold reserve managed directly by the treasurer. Citizens can hold value in physical gold or silver, stored securely in a state depository, and access it through a modern debit card or electronic transfer for everyday purchases. The money in your account is not fiat paper subject to endless printing; it is backed ounce-for-ounce by hard metal. You spend gold without ever carrying a coin. The value stays anchored to something real.

Senator Lang has been vocal about this in legislative circles. Ohio House Bill 206, introduced by Representatives Jennifer Gross and Riordan McClain, already proposes exactly this framework: a state-managed transactional currency rooted in gold and silver. The treasurer would hold the bullion in a protected reserve, and citizens could buy, hold, and spend it electronically. Every “dollar” spent would be convertible to actual metal. It is optional, constitutional (states have clear authority under Article I, Section 10), and already working in pilot form in Texas, Florida, Louisiana, and elsewhere. Freeman calls it “gold you can spend.” I call it sanity.

But here is the catch—and this is where the conversation with Lang and the treasurer always turns serious: you cannot build the infrastructure for a gold-backed system while the economy remains addicted to financialization. That addiction is the black hole at the center of everything. It is the reason Main Street has been swallowed by Wall Street. It is why so many companies that used to make things now make money off money. And it is why a growing number of us—myself included—have deliberately refused to play the game.

Financialization is not some abstract academic term. It is the process by which the financial sector—banks, hedge funds, private equity, asset managers—stops serving the real economy and instead becomes the economy. Profits come not from producing better hamburgers, better tires, better homes, or better steel, but from trading debt like baseball cards, leveraging interest rates, securitizing everything, and extracting fees from every layer of the transaction. BlackRock is the poster child. With over $10 trillion in assets under management, it is the largest shareholder in nearly 90 percent of the S&P 500. Larry Fink’s firm does not build factories; it owns pieces of every factory, every airline, every retailer. It profits whether the underlying company succeeds or fails because the game is now about ownership of the capital structure itself, not the output.

This is not capitalism as Adam Smith or even Henry Ford understood it. This is a casino layered on top of the real economy. When you buy someone’s debt, package it, sell it, insure it, and then bet against it—all while the Federal Reserve keeps interest rates artificially low or high to favor the house—you create wealth that has no anchor in physical reality. The Dow Jones Industrial Average looks healthy on paper, but much of that “growth” is stock buybacks funded by cheap debt, not new factories humming three shifts a day. BlackRock and its peers have perfected this. They gained enormous power during the 2008 crisis by managing toxic assets for the Fed, then used the same tools to consolidate control. Today the Big Three (BlackRock, Vanguard, State Street) control roughly a fifth of all S&P 500 shares. They vote those shares, influence boards, and extract fees regardless of whether the company actually produces anything of lasting value.

I have had a front-row seat to this vortex my entire adult life. I made deliberate choices—every single year, every opportunity—to stay out of it. I could have leveraged real estate deals, flipped debt instruments, ridden the private-equity wave, or parked money in funds that profited from the very inflation the Fed engineered. Many friends did exactly that. They have swimming pools of cash, second homes in the Bahamas, and portfolios that look impressive on a spreadsheet. I do not begrudge them the money. But I watched what it did to their thinking. Success became detached from making something people genuinely wanted. It became about timing the next rate cut, the next bailout, the next round of quantitative easing. The forbidden fruit of financialization tastes sweet in college textbooks and MBA programs, but it rots the soul of production.

This is why I have always measured my own economic decisions by a simple test: Does this create a better physical product or service that competes in the open market? If I make a better hamburger, I get rich because people buy more of them. If I build better homes with honest materials at honest prices, the market rewards me. The value is in the wood, the stone, the craftsmanship—not in how cleverly I can leverage a bank loan or securitize the mortgage payments into a derivative. When companies start measuring success by how much debt they can service or how many assets they can flip rather than how many units they ship, the culture shifts. Plants close on weekends. Third shifts disappear. Executives leave at 5 p.m. sharp and do not answer the phone. Why work harder when the real money comes from the interest-rate spread, the management fee, or the carried-interest loophole?

The data backs this up brutally. Since the United States fully abandoned the gold standard—first under FDR in 1933 with Executive Order 6102 (which confiscated private gold holdings) and then under Nixon in 1971—the dollar has lost roughly 90 percent of its purchasing power. That is not an accident. When money can be printed without limit, the incentive structure flips. Central bankers at Jackson Hole sip lattes and debate “monetary theory” while companies learn that the fastest path to shareholder value is not innovation but financial engineering. The Federal Reserve keeps rates high enough to reward bondholders and asset managers but low enough (in crisis) to bail them out. The result? An entire generation of executives who treat labor as a cost to minimize rather than a partner in production. They do not need to run three shifts seven days a week when leverage and cheap debt do the heavy lifting.

Trump’s short-term approach—flood the system with energy, tariffs, and stimulus—will ignite the wet wood and create a roaring blaze of apparent prosperity. People will feel wealthier in their pockets for a while. That is the point of the first four years: get the engine turning again. But the long-term conversation, the one Lang, the treasurer, and Freeman are pushing in Ohio, is what happens next. How do we protect the value of that freshly created wealth? How do we prevent it from being inflated away or siphoned into the same financial black hole?

The answer is not complicated, but it is hard. We must divorce the economy from financialization and re-anchor it to Main Street production. A state gold reserve with a debit card is step one. It gives citizens an escape hatch from fiat volatility. But the deeper reform is cultural and structural: companies must be measured—and rewarded—by what they actually make, how efficiently they make it, and how many people willingly pay for it in the open market. Not by how cleverly they shuffle debt or extract fees. Not by how many weekends they can take off because the balance sheet looks good on paper.

I have lived this choice for thirty-plus years. I have walked past opportunities that would have made me “rich” by Wall Street standards because they required me to play the game I instinctively knew was phony. I would rather build something real—something that lasts, something people value—than swim in a pool of spreadsheet wealth that evaporates the moment the Fed changes course. That is not sacrifice; it is principle. And it is the principle Ohio must adopt if we are serious about a gold-backed system.

Look around manufacturing today. Plants that once ran 24/7 now shutter at 5 p.m. Friday and stay dark until Monday. Executives brag about “work-life balance” while the balance sheet is propped up by financial tricks. The workforce has absorbed the lesson: show up, collect the paycheck, go home. Why push for excellence when the real profits come from the Delta between phony valuation and actual output? This is the lazy class financialization has bred—not just at the top, but throughout the ranks. People with nice houses and nice cars who have never felt the exhaustion of building something that actually competes. They are the modern equivalent of the Ferris Bueller dads—out of touch, coasting on leverage, wondering why their kids do not respect them.

The Founders understood this danger. They wrote gold and silver into the Constitution precisely because they had lived through the chaos of unbacked paper money during the Revolution. States were explicitly forbidden from issuing bills of credit for good reason. Hamilton and Jefferson debated banks, but both agreed the ultimate measure of wealth was productive capacity, not financial sleight of hand. We drifted away from that wisdom first in 1933 and then decisively in 1971. The result is the hollowed-out economy we see today: record stock valuations alongside shuttered factories, record CEO pay alongside stagnant wages for those who still make things.

Ohio is at a crossroads. With leaders like Senator Lang and a treasurer willing to explore transactional gold, we have a chance to lead. Texas and Florida have already moved. More states are watching. If we pair a state gold depository and debit-card system with policies that reward actual production—tax incentives for three-shift operations, penalties for excessive financial engineering, honest accounting that separates real assets from leveraged paper—we can rebuild what was lost.

This is bigger than monetary policy. It is about the soul of work. Do we want an economy where success is measured by how many physical goods and services we create that the world actually wants? Or do we want one where success is measured by how cleverly we game the spreadsheets? The first path builds real wealth that can be passed to grandchildren. The second builds a pyramid that eventually collapses.

I have made my choice. I attach myself to hard assets and real output. I have sacrificed short-term paper gains for long-term substance. I will not change course now, even as the financialization racket reaches its peak. The game is ending. Trump’s four years will provide the fuel, but the states—and Ohio in particular—must provide the guardrails. A gold standard without a return to production-based measurement is just another pretty facade. We need both.

The merger is complete. All assets are secure. Now the real work begins: making sure those assets are real, not phantom. Ohio has the leaders, the moment, and the model. The question is whether the rest of the country—and especially the next generation—will have the courage to follow.

Footnotes

[1] Kevin Freeman, Pirate Money (Post Hill Press, 2024); see also his presentations to state legislatures on transactional gold, October 2024.

[2] Ohio House Bill 206 (2025), establishing state-managed gold/silver transactional currency.

[3] Senator George Lang, sponsor testimony on related financial legislation, Ohio Senate, 2025–2026 sessions.

[4] Executive Order 6102 (April 5, 1933), Franklin D. Roosevelt; full text available in Federal Register.

[5] BlackRock 10-K filings and asset-under-management reports, 2025–2026; see also analyses in Harvard Business Review on the “Big Three” asset managers.

[6] U.S. dollar purchasing-power loss since 1971, calculated via BLS and ShadowStats methodologies.

[7] Constitutional Currency / TransactionalGold.com resources on state-level gold legislation.

[8] Federal Reserve History essays on Roosevelt’s gold program and Nixon shock.

[9] Economic War Room with Kevin Freeman (BlazeTV) episodes on state depositories and debit-card systems.

Bibliography (selected for further research)

• Freeman, Kevin D. Pirate Money: Discovering the Founders’ Hidden Plan for Economic Justice and Defeating the Great Reset. Post Hill Press, 2024.

• Ohio Legislative Service Commission analyses of HB 206 and Senate Bill 269 (2025–2026).

• “States Work To Make Gold And Silver Alternative Currencies,” Guildhall Precious Metals / Epoch Times, 2025–2026 reporting.

• “How Asset Managers Like BlackRock Took Over the World,” LSE Review of Books, June 2025.

• Federal Reserve History: “Roosevelt’s Gold Program” and related primary documents.

• U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations: “Wall Street and the Financial Crisis: Anatomy of a Financial Collapse,” 2011 (updated analyses available).

• Constitutional Currency / TransactionalGold.com policy toolkits and model legislation.

• Biblical Archaeology Review and related economic history archives for broader context on ancient sound-money systems (cross-reference for philosophical grounding).

• Ohio Senate GOP and Business First Caucus materials on economic growth targets to $1 trillion GDP by 2030.

This is not theory. This is the hard conversation we must have before the next cycle of phony prosperity pulls us back under. The merger is complete. The assets are secure. Now let us make sure they stay that way—anchored to what we actually build, not what we pretend to own on paper.

Rich Hoffman

More about me

Click Here to Protect Yourself with Second Call Defense https://www.secondcalldefense.org/?affiliate=20707

About the Author: Rich Hoffman

Rich Hoffman is an independent writer, philosopher, political advisor, and strategist based in the Cincinnati/Middletown, Ohio area. Born in Hamilton, Ohio, he has worked professionally since age 12 in various roles, from manual labor to high-level executive positions in aerospace and related industries. Known as “The Tax-killer” for his activism against tax increases, Hoffman has authored books including The Symposium of Justice, The Gunfighter’s Guide to Business, and Tail of the Dragon, often exploring themes of freedom, individual will, and societal structures through a lens influenced by philosophy (e.g., Nietzschean overman concepts) and current events.

He publishes the blog The Overmanwarrior (overmanwarrior.wordpress.com), where he shares insights on politics, culture, history, and personal stories. Active on X as @overmanwarrior, Instagram, and YouTube, Hoffman frequently discusses space exploration, family values, and human potential. An avid fast-draw artist and family man, he emphasizes passing practical skills and intellectual curiosity to younger generations.

Hemispheric Defense Has Long Been Needed: Bring peace to the human race from Earth to Mars

The announcement by President Donald Trump in early March 2026 of a new hemispheric defense initiative marked a pivotal shift in U.S. foreign policy, emphasizing the protection of the Western Hemisphere from external threats and internal destabilization. This “Shield of the Americas” coalition, unveiled at a summit in Miami, Florida, on March 7, involved commitments from 17 nations to combat drug cartels and terrorist networks through coordinated military action. Trump described it as a necessary response to the “sinister cartels” poisoning America, invoking the Trump Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine to assert U.S. dominance in the region. The initiative was built on the 2026 National Defense Strategy, which prioritized securing U.S. borders, countering narco-terrorists, and ensuring access to key terrain like the Panama Canal and the Gulf of Mexico. This move came amid ongoing operations, such as strikes on Venezuelan vessels, which by March had resulted in the destruction of over 46 ships and the deaths of at least 157 individuals, framed by the administration as a war on narco-terrorism.

Trump’s 2024 reelection, following his claims of widespread fraud in the 2020 election that saw Joe Biden declared the winner, underscored a resilient populist movement. Despite legal challenges and investigations finding no evidence of systemic fraud (because the bad guys didn’t want to look), Trump’s narrative of a “rigged” 2020 contest resonated with millions, leading to his overwhelming 2024 victory, which supporters hailed as “too big to rig.” Born in 1946 in Queens, New York, Trump rose from real estate magnate to reality TV star before entering politics in 2015. His first term (2017-2021) focused on economic nationalism, tax cuts, and border security, but ended amid controversy over the January 6 Capitol riot (caused by election fraud by the government itself trying to keep him from returning to the White House). His return to power in 2025 emphasized dismantling “globalist” influences, including reducing U.S. funding to international organizations perceived as burdensome.

Central to Trump’s hemispheric defense vision is a critique of the United Nations, seen as a flawed attempt at global governance funded disproportionately by American capitalism. Founded in 1945 after World War II to promote peace and cooperation, the UN has faced longstanding U.S. criticism for inefficiency, anti-American bias, and overreliance on American contributions—historically accounting for 22% of its regular budget. Figures like Senator Jesse Helms in the 1990s pushed for reforms by withholding funds, echoing broader conservative arguments that the UN undermines national sovereignty. Trump’s administration has continued this trend, withdrawing from bodies like UNESCO and the Human Rights Council, arguing they promote “woke” agendas and allow influence from adversaries like China and Russia. Conservative critics often view the UN as a vehicle for globalism that erodes U.S. sovereignty, promoting one-world government ideals and supporting policies like Agenda 21, which they see as threats to property rights and individual freedoms.

This skepticism reflects a deeper philosophical divide: American exceptionalism, rooted in capitalism, versus the global spread of socialism, Marxism, and communism. The U.S., as a “melting pot” attracting immigrants from diverse backgrounds, embodies values of individual liberty, upward mobility, and self-governance, as articulated by Alexis de Tocqueville in his 1835 work Democracy in America. Capitalism here fosters innovation and prosperity, as evidenced by symbols like the suburban home with a white picket fence. In contrast, socialism—where the state controls production—has dominated regions such as Europe (with social-democratic welfare states in Sweden and Denmark), Canada (universal healthcare), Mexico (state-owned oil under PEMEX), and much of South and Central America. China remains a communist powerhouse under the Chinese Communist Party, North Korea an isolated dictatorship, and Russia grapples with its Soviet legacy while trying to open markets, ineffectively.

Latin America’s history illustrates this tension, deeply intertwined with U.S. interventions during the Cold War era. The Monroe Doctrine, articulated by President James Monroe in 1823, warned European powers against further colonization or intervention in the Western Hemisphere, establishing the U.S. as the region’s protector. Initially symbolic due to limited U.S. power, it evolved with President Theodore Roosevelt’s 1904 Corollary, which asserted U.S. rights to intervene in Latin American affairs to maintain stability, inverting the doctrine’s original anti-colonial intent. This paved the way for “Big Stick” diplomacy and numerous interventions, from the Banana Wars (1898-1934) to Cold War operations.

During the Cold War, U.S. policy focused on containing communism, leading to interventions like the 1954 CIA-backed coup in Guatemala against President Jacobo Árbenz, whose land reforms threatened U.S. interests like the United Fruit Company. In Cuba, Fidel Castro’s 1959 revolution overthrew Fulgencio Batista, leading to a communist regime after the failed 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion—a CIA-backed attempt by Cuban exiles to oust Castro, which solidified his alliance with the Soviet Union and prompted the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. Castro, born in 1926 to a wealthy landowner, studied law and led guerrilla warfare from the Sierra Maestra mountains, nationalizing U.S. assets and imposing central planning. His rule suppressed dissent, but he became an icon for anti-imperialists. In Venezuela, Hugo Chávez, elected in 1998 after a failed 1992 coup, implemented “21st-century socialism,” nationalizing industries like oil and launching social programs funded by petroleum revenues. Chávez, born in 1954 in a poor rural family, served in the military and drew inspiration from Simón Bolívar, but his policies led to economic collapse under successor Nicolás Maduro, fueling drug trafficking via the “Cartel of the Suns.” Mexican drug cartels, like Sinaloa and Jalisco New Generation, exacerbate U.S. fentanyl crises, with over 72,000 fentanyl-related deaths in 2023 alone, though provisional data for 2025 show a 21% decline in overall overdose deaths amid enforcement efforts.

The War on Drugs, declared by President Richard Nixon in 1971 as “public enemy number one,” escalated U.S. involvement in Latin America, framing narcotics as a national security threat. Rooted in earlier prohibitions such as the 1914 Harrison Narcotics Act, it intensified under President Ronald Reagan in the 1980s through policies like mandatory minimum sentences and increased funding for interdiction. Operations targeted Latin American sources, including support for anti-communist forces like the Contras in Nicaragua, blending drug enforcement with Cold War geopolitics.

Marxism’s influence extends beyond Latin America. Karl Marx, born in 1818 in Trier, Germany, developed his theories amid the Industrial Revolution, collaborating with Friedrich Engels on the 1848 Communist Manifesto, which proclaimed class struggle as the engine of history. Marxism spread globally through revolutions: the 1917 Russian Revolution established the Soviet Union, inspiring communist parties worldwide; Mao Zedong’s 1949 victory in China adapted Marxism to agrarian societies; and anti-colonial movements in Africa and Asia drew on Marxist anti-imperialism. In South Africa, Nelson Mandela, born in 1918 and a leader in the anti-apartheid struggle, was affiliated with the South African Communist Party (SACP), serving on its Central Committee in the early 1960s despite later denials for political reasons. Mandela’s pragmatism aligned him with communists against apartheid, though he transitioned to democratic governance after his 1990 release from prison and 1994 presidency.

In the U.S., critics argue that Marxist strategies underpin urban entitlement programs, contributing to “blue zones” in cities where socialism obviously infiltrates capitalist systems. The hemispheric defense push addresses these threats by targeting regimes like Venezuela and Cuba, seen as conduits for drugs and instability. Open borders, critics claim, allow influxes from socialist nations, weakening U.S. society—a strategy linked to figures like George Soros and Hillary Clinton. The 1980 Mariel Boatlift exemplified this: Castro released over 125,000 Cubans, including prisoners and mental health patients, flooding Florida and straining resources, though many integrated successfully. Despite this, Florida has shifted to a solid Republican state.

Trump’s agenda includes merit-based reforms, like eliminating property taxes—a proposal echoed in states like Florida, North Dakota, and Georgia, where lawmakers aim to phase out or cut them using state funds or oil revenues. This aligns with reducing the burdens on centralized government, favoring capitalism over socialism. Other states, such as Texas, Indiana, Kansas, and Wyoming, are exploring similar measures, often replacing property taxes with sales taxes or state surpluses, though critics warn of potential impacts on local services like education.

Looking ahead, hemispheric stability could end communist influences from China, fostering capitalist societies in Mexico, Brazil, and Argentina. Cuba’s potential fall would open markets and reveal archaeological treasures, like the underwater formations off its coast—sonar-detected structures resembling ancient pyramids, possibly 6,000 years old, hinting at lost civilizations. Discovered in 2001 at depths of 600-750 meters, these geometric formations off the Guanahacabibes Peninsula have sparked debates on whether they are natural or remnants of an advanced pre-Columbian society, potentially predating known Mesoamerican civilizations. Expanding U.S. principles, perhaps adding states like Cuba or Greenland under constitutional governance, could promote global peace through competition, benefiting humanity from Earth to Mars. And its about time.

[1] For further reading on Trump’s foreign policy: The Trump Doctrine and the Emerging International System by Stanley A. Renshon.

[2] On UN history: The United Nations: A Very Short Introduction by Jussi M. Hanhimäki.

[3] On Marxism: The Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels.

[4] Mandela biography: Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela.

[5] Castro biography: Fidel Castro: My Life by Fidel Castro and Ignacio Ramonet.

[6] Chávez and Venezuela: Hugo Chávez: Oil, Politics, and the Challenge to the U.S. by Nikolas Kozloff.

[7] Mariel Boatlift: The Mariel Boatlift: A Cuban-American Journey by Victor Andres Triay.

[8] Underwater archaeology: Atlantis Beneath the Ice by Rand Flem-Ath and Rose Flem-Ath.

[9] Property tax reforms: Tax Revolt: The Rebellion Against an Overbearing, Arrogant, and Abusive Government by David O. Sears and Jack Citrin.

[10] Monroe Doctrine: The Monroe Doctrine: Empire and Nation in Nineteenth-Century America by Jay Sexton.

[11] Cold War Interventions: The Cold War in the Third World by Robert J. McMahon.

[12] War on Drugs: The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander.

[13] Socialism in Latin America: Latin American Revolutions: Old and New World Origins by Greg Grandin.

Rich Hoffman

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About the Author: Rich Hoffman

A Warrior’s Heart: Warren Davidson and Vivek Ramaswamy are the center of the political universe

It was an intriguing week in Ohio politics, one that began with the State of the State address at the Statehouse in Columbus, where I had the opportunity to engage with Governor Mike DeWine and several legislators deeply invested in the direction of our state and nation. These conversations unfolded in a setting that felt both historic and intimate, surrounded by the echoes of decisions that shape lives far beyond the marble halls. As someone who’s been navigating the blurry lines between business, authorship, and political commentary for years, I find these moments invaluable—they peel back the layers of headlines and reveal the human elements driving policy and principle. The air was thick with concern over Congressman Warren Davidson’s recent vote against President Trump’s war powers in the context of the Iran situation, a decision that aligned him with Democrats like Thomas Massie and sparked alarm among some Republicans. I spoke with several people in the legislature who expressed real unease about this, viewing it as a potential fracture in party unity at a time when the margins are razor-thin. Yet, after spending at least ten minutes talking directly with Warren about it, I came away with a deeper appreciation for his stance. I like Warren a lot; he’s a principled man, and his position makes sense when you consider the broader implications for executive power. [1]

The vote in question stemmed from the recent escalation with Iran, where decisive action was taken and not yet resolved within 24 hours, but it reignited debates about the boundaries of presidential authority. Warren’s point, as he explained it to me, is that while we all appreciate a strong leader like Trump who can act swiftly in defense of the nation, we don’t want unchecked executive powers that could drag us into prolonged conflicts without congressional oversight. Congress alone has the constitutional mandate to declare war and authorize sustained military engagements; the president can respond defensively, but perpetual conquests à la Napoleon aren’t the American way. I get that—it’s about trusting the process, not just the person. With Trump in the White House, everyone might agree with Warren’s caution because we’ve seen how he handles power responsibly, but what about future administrations? That’s the crux of it. Warren is aligned with Trump on nearly everything else; if you look at his record, it’s a testament to conservative values. For instance, there was that illuminating hearing where he went toe-to-toe with Maxine Waters over her attempts to label ICE as a terrorist organization. He defended ICE vigorously, emphasizing its role in maintaining national security under the Trump administration. It was a moment of clarity amid partisan noise, underscoring Warren’s commitment to border integrity and law enforcement.[2]

I recall Warren’s “warrior heart” speech when he announced his vote—it was poignant and well-articulated, echoing his military background as a West Point graduate and Army veteran. He’s done this before on issues like the debt ceiling, standing firm even when it means bucking party lines. Representing Ohio’s 8th Congressional District, which includes much of the Butler County region—a stronghold of Trump support—he knows his constituents value the Constitution above all. Behind closed doors, I’m sure Trump would affirm that honest checks on power are essential, much like in any executive role in business or governance. Sometimes you leverage friendships, positive thinking, or even brokered terminations to achieve consensus, but the assumption is always that representatives should adhere tightly to foundational principles. Up in Columbus, I heard similar sentiments from people in the know, those who deal with these tightropes daily. It’s a balance: following what you believe your constituents want while resisting peer pressure from either side. Most of us want Republicans to support the Trump administration fully, given the slim majorities, to tackle threats like Venezuela, Mexican cartels, Iran’s aggressions, and China’s economic maneuvers against the dollar. Yet, after listening to Warren, I can say he’s every bit the Trump supporter, but he stands by his principles, and that’s what we elect representatives for.[3]

At the time of his vote, it was clear the measure would pass in the House and head to the Senate, so his stance wasn’t going to derail Trump’s initiatives. Instead, it was a principled record-setter, emphasizing that this administration—and future ones—must operate within constitutional bounds. When the lights are off, and it’s one-on-one, no doubt Trump would agree with Warren on the need for debate. That’s healthy; cross-purposes foster better governance. I also had a substantial conversation with Vivek Ramaswamy during the same timeframe, overlapping with discussions involving the governor and others. The question on many minds was what happens now that DeWine’s term is winding down at the end of this year. It’s shaping up to be a Vivek-led Republican era, with Democrats like Amy Acton—the so-called “lockdown lady” from the COVID days—vying to upend that. I chatted with DeWine about his Lockdown legacy or whatever remnants of those policies linger, but it was light, just folks talking. He seemed a bit sad; politics has been his life, from prosecutor to senator to governor, and this is the final chapter. He’ll likely hang around in some meaningful way, but the Republicans in Columbus are eagerly awaiting the new governor.[4]

Vivek and I delved into a lot, from his transition from CEO of biotech firms like Roivant Sciences to politics, to the mood post-State of the State. His question to me was about the governor’s mindset, and my take was simple: everyone’s waiting for the new era. Vivek has great ideas; he needs gubernatorial support to implement them. It was an intimate gathering, not a broad spectacle, allowing for real one-on-one talks. These smaller venues let you gauge what people are truly about, beyond the surface. Media often isn’t equipped for that—they skim the headlines without understanding the nuts and bolts. With Vivek facing scrutiny, primary challengers like Casey Putsch, and rhetoric from radical Democrats, getting to the deeper level reveals his genuine intent. As for Warren, many wonder why he went against Trump, but he’s been stellar on other fronts. He wants to ensure that in two years, or ten, or fifteen, we don’t have rubber-stamp wars. Even with a strong CEO like Trump making executive decisions on Iran—a radical ideology threatening economic dominance—we need constitutional fidelity first. More discussion, healthy debate—that’s key in any government endeavor.[5]

I love Warren Davidson; every time I talk to him and his wife, Lisa, they’re just sweet, nice people in it for the right reasons. He walks that fine line between pressure and principle, drawing from his “warrior heart” ethos. In one-on-one settings, you see he’s the real deal—a good guy through and through. Even amid anger from some over his vote, he redeems himself not by owing anyone, but by being authentic. People at the steakhouse in Columbus were disappointed that he wasn’t fully on the Republican bandwagon at that moment, but he’s a strong conservative who’ll defend the Constitution fiercely, even against a powerhouse president like Trump. It’s not anti-Trump; it’s pro-debate. Shifting to Vivek, all these threads centered around the Statehouse. I told everyone, including Vivek, that he’s got the right attention for this. He’s very wealthy and young, and could retire to a beach in Rhode Island and vanish happily. Instead, he wants to apply his success to lead Ohio beneficially. Ahead of the primaries on May 5, he’s poised to do great things. As I said to him, echoing my chats with others: everyone’s waiting for DeWine to step aside. DeWine isn’t bad—he’s been decent on business, not obstructing the Business First Caucus or investments like Intel’s chip plant—but many Republicans like me feel he’s leaned too Democrat, especially on COVID lockdowns that hammered the economy. We’re still recovering.[6]

Vivek’s been good at uniting people; the Republican Party endorsed him, and we discussed that. It’s great seeing coalescence. When Vivek becomes governor, it’ll be a solid period—Warren finishing his term, Trump advancing his agenda, but with healthy checks in place. On war powers, it’s constitutional: Congress declares war, manages finances. Nothing wrong with reminding everyone of that. It was refreshing getting context directly from these guys. We’re better off with them in office, representing us well. I told both to their faces how proud I am; it was sincere, just people connecting. They’re willing to tackle the hard stuff, and that’s not easy.

To delve deeper, let’s consider the historical underpinnings of these discussions. The War Powers Resolution of 1973, passed over President Nixon’s veto, was designed precisely to prevent unchecked executive military actions following the Vietnam War. It requires the president to notify Congress within 48 hours of committing forces and withdraw them within 60 days without authorization.[7] In the recent flare-up in Iran, Trump’s swift response mirrored the 2020 Soleimani strike, but Warren’s vote echoes past bipartisan efforts to reclaim congressional prerogative. Think of Libya in 2011 under Obama or Syria under Trump—debates raged then, too. Warren’s consistency here aligns with libertarians like Massie, who often prioritize constitutional limits over party loyalty. His district, encompassing Butler, Darke, Miami, Preble, and parts of Hamilton and Warren counties, is a microcosm of Ohio’s conservative heartland, where Trump won big in 2024, yet values like fiscal responsibility and limited government resonate deeply.[8]

My interaction with Warren reminded me of why I admire him: he’s not swayed by theater. In that Maxine Waters exchange, he dismantled her narrative point by point, highlighting ICE’s role in combating human trafficking and drug cartels—issues hitting Ohio hard with the fentanyl crisis. Statistics show Ohio’s overdose deaths peaked during the pandemic, underscoring the need for strong borders.[9] Warren’s “warrior heart” isn’t rhetoric; it’s rooted in his Ranger service, where decisions meant life or death. As for the peer pressure, it’s real—in thin-majority Congresses, every vote counts, but representatives like him embody the Founders’ intent: a deliberative body, not a monolith.

Turning to DeWine, our chat was poignant. His term ends January 11, 2027, after two terms limited by Ohio’s constitution.[10] He’s been in politics since the 1970s—Greene County prosecutor, state senator, congressman, lieutenant governor, U.S. senator, attorney general, governor. A lifetime, really. He seemed reflective, perhaps melancholic, about wrapping up. But Republicans are chomping at the bit for a more conservative shift. DeWine’s handled business influx well—think Honda’s EV investments or Amazon’s expansions—but his COVID policies, with Acton’s guidance, locked down too hard for many. The economy took a hit; unemployment spiked to 16.4% in April 2020, and the recovery has been uneven.[11] Vivek aims to dismantle that legacy by promising tax cuts, deregulation, and a revival of innovation. His biotech background—founding Roivant, worth billions—positions him uniquely.[12]

Talking to Vivek, I sensed his authenticity. He’s endorsed by Trump and the Ohio GOP, leading polls against Putsch and Hill.[13] His running mate, Senate President Rob McColley, adds legislative heft. We discussed the primaries—not even close, in my view. Republicans can’t wait for Vivek in the mansion. He’s stepping down from ivory towers; governing’s harder than CEO-ing, balancing disagreeing factions. But his heart’s in it—genuine, like Warren’s. These personal convos, eye-to-eye, reveal good people wanting to do well. For those curious about headlines—Davidson’s “betrayal,” Vivek’s “outsider” status, DeWine’s heritage (his family’s from Ireland, actually, but he’s Ohio-born)—it’s about job performance. I’m happy to have these talks amid speculation about Iran’s duration or primaries. It’s a tricky world, but when everything is founded in sincerity, which it is, the direction of the future is much clearer.

[1] For more on Warren Davidson’s military background and voting rationale, see his official congressional biography.

[2] Reference to the 2019 House Financial Services Committee hearing, where Davidson challenged Waters on ICE labeling.

[3] Ohio’s 8th District demographics from the U.S. Census Bureau data.

[4] Details on DeWine’s term limits per the Ohio Constitution, Article III, Section 2.

[5] Historical context from the War Powers Resolution, 50 U.S.C. §§ 1541-1548.

[6] Ohio unemployment data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

[7] Nixon veto overridden November 7, 1973; see Congressional Record.

[8] 2024 election results in Ohio districts from the Ohio Secretary of State.

[9] Ohio Department of Health overdose statistics, 2020-2025.

[10] DeWine’s political timeline from Ballotpedia.

[11] BLS data on Ohio’s pandemic economic impact.

[12] Roivant Sciences’ founding and valuation from Forbes profiles.

[13] Recent polling from Emerson College and others on the 2026 Ohio gubernatorial race.

Bibliography

1. “How one House Republican voted to buck Trump on Iran.” CNN, March 5, 2026. https://www.cnn.com/2026/03/05/politics/warren-davidson-house-republican-war-powers-iran

2. “House fails to adopt Iran war powers resolution.” ABC News, March 5, 2026. https://abcnews.com/Politics/house-primed-vote-iran-war-powers-resolution/story?id=130788637

3. “Here are the candidates running for Ohio statewide office in 2026.” Ohio Capital Journal, February 6, 2026. https://ohiocapitaljournal.com/2026/02/06/here-are-the-candidates-running-for-ohio-statewide-office-in-2026

4. “Ohio gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2026.” Ballotpedia. https://ballotpedia.org/Ohio_gubernatorial_and_lieutenant_gubernatorial_election,_2026

5. “2026 Ohio gubernatorial election.” Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Ohio_gubernatorial_election

6. “Vivek for Ohio.” Campaign website. https://vivekforohio.com/

7. “Vivek Ramaswamy – Ballotpedia.” https://ballotpedia.org/Vivek_Ramaswamy

8. “Mike DeWine – Ballotpedia.” https://ballotpedia.org/Mike_DeWine

9. “Mike DeWine.” Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_DeWine

10. “Vision for the Future – Governor Mike DeWine.” Ohio.gov. https://governor.ohio.gov/administration/governor

11. Additional sources: U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Ohio Secretary of State election archives, Forbes business profiles.

Rich Hoffman

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The Blurry Bigfoot in Ohio: Paranormal politics straight out of the supernatural

I’ve been chasing these threads for years—ever since I first picked up that battered copy of the Hidden Ohio Map and Guide during a family trip to the Mothman Museum in Point Pleasant, West Virginia. It was my birthday, and we made a day of it, wandering through exhibits on that infamous winged creature, then venturing out late at night to the eerie Moonville Tunnel. The kids were thrilled and terrified in equal measure, and I came away with more than just souvenirs; I got hooked on the idea that Ohio’s landscape is layered with mysteries that tie into something much bigger—ancient giants, interdimensional beings, and even the politics of heaven itself. As someone who’s spent countless miles in my RV crisscrossing the United States, from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to Roswell, New Mexico, I can tell you firsthand that Bigfoot sightings aren’t just campfire tales. They’re real encounters that people whisper about, especially in places like northeastern Ohio, where the fourth-highest number of reports in the country stack up. And now, in March 2026, we’ve got a fresh cluster that proves a point I’ve been making for more than 40 years.

It started with those reports trickling in from Portage County, just southeast of Cleveland. Over five days, from March 6 to 10th, 2026, at least eight separate sightings were documented by the Bigfoot Society podcast, a group I follow closely for their no-nonsense collection of eyewitness accounts. Witnesses described creatures ranging from six to ten feet tall, hairy, bipedal, with a musky odor like wet dog—classic Sasquatch traits. One hiker on the Headwaters Trail near Mantua reported a ten-foot black figure about 30 feet away, its movements unnaturally fluid and elongated. Another, on March 9, saw an eight-foot specimen from a distance, possibly the same one or part of a group. Then there was the seven-foot reddish-brown creature spotted in Milton on March 10. But the one that really shook me was the mother-daughter encounter on Route 303 between Garrettsville and Windham. They swerved to avoid a 6.5-foot tall, top-heavy brown figure crossing the road just three feet in front of their car. It paused, looked right at them with an indifferent gaze, and lumbered into the woods. Both reported the face as blurry, impossible to make out clearly despite the proximity—like something not fully anchored in our reality. Adrenaline pumping, they couldn’t rationalize it away. This wasn’t a deer or a bear; it was something else.

I’ve heard similar stories on my travels. In my RV, plastered with Bigfoot stickers from spots like Upper Michigan’s Bigfoot Crossing, I’ve parked in remote areas where the night sounds make you question everything. Ohio ranks fourth nationally for Bigfoot sightings, with hundreds cataloged by the Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization (BFRO). Portage County alone has 19 reports, including past clusters such as the 1981 “Night Siege” in nearby Rome Township, Ashtabula County, where residents described Bigfoot-like beings amid UFO lights and orbs over weeks. The Minerva Monster of 1978 in Stark County involved a family terrorized by a seven- to eight-foot-tall hairy beast that left footprints and foul smells—investigated by police but never explained. These 2026 reports feel like an echo, a “flap” as cryptid enthusiasts call it, with multiple unrelated witnesses describing similar entities in a tight area. Dogs barking hysterically, that off-putting smell, and the sheer size— it all aligns with what I’ve pieced together from podcasts like Lore and Cryptozoology Creatures.

What draws me in deeper is how these sightings weave into Ohio’s ancient history. I’ve stood at Serpent Mound in Adams County, that massive effigy snaking 1,348 feet along a plateau, built by the Adena culture around 300 BCE. Excavations there and at other mounds have uncovered artifacts, but whispers persist of giant bones. Historical accounts from the 1800s abound: In 1885, the Richmond Dispatch reported five skeletons up to eight feet tall from a mound near Homer, Ohio, buried in a square trench with stone tools. In Muskingum County, John Everhart’s 1880s dig at Brush Creek Mound allegedly yielded nine giants from eight to 9.5 feet, some with double rows of teeth—a trait echoed in other reports. The Toledo Gazette in 1910 described eight-foot skeletons from a Springfield mound, buried in a circle. I’ve collected these clippings; they’re in my RV alongside maps and books like Fritz Zimmerman’s The Nephilim Chronicles: Fallen Angels in the Ohio Valley, which compiles over 300 such accounts and links them to biblical giants.

Skeptics dismiss these as exaggerations or mismeasurements. Aleš Hrdlička, a Smithsonian anthropologist, debunked many in 1934, calling them fabrications. Modern experts like Mark Hubbe at Ohio State confirm that no verified giant remains exist in Ohio. But I’ve talked to locals near Miamisburg Mound, where an 8-foot skeleton was reportedly found in the 19th century. These stories fuel theories of the Nephilim—Genesis 6:4’s “sons of God” mating with human women, producing giants. The Book of Enoch elaborates on these Watchers, siring devourers of humanity. Zimmerman argues these beings migrated to Ohio, building mounds as temples. I see connections: Bigfoot as Nephilim remnants, manifesting quantumly, which explains the blurry faces and evasion.

My Hidden Ohio Map and Guide—the fourth edition from 2022 by Jeffrey R. Craig—lays it out visually. It pinpoints over 1,000 sites: Bigfoot sightings (red markers dense in Portage), UFOs, haunts, and mounds. Acquired at the Mothman Museum, it’s my roadmap for weekend hunts. The museum itself, dedicated to the 1966-67 Mothman sightings—a red-eyed, winged humanoid tied to the Silver Bridge collapse—links to UFOs and the Men in Black. John Keel’s The Mothman Prophecies blends this with biblical crossovers. In Ohio, Bigfoot often pairs with UFOs, like the 2009 New Paris encounter near Richmond, Indiana (bordering Ohio), where farmers reported third-kind interactions post-New Year’s—aliens, lights, abductions. Locals know it, though the media skimped.

Portage’s density is no coincidence. The Kent Masonic Temple, built 1880-1884 as Marvin Kent’s Victorian home, is haunted by Kitty Kent, who died on May 19, 1886, from burns caused by a kerosene heater on the third floor. Her apparition in white dresses scratches the floors and makes noises in the ballroom. Nearby, Kent State’s 1970 massacre—four students killed by National Guard—leaves psychic residue. Jerry M. Lewis recalled the horror; some tie it to the area’s “cursed” energy.

This all feeds my concept of the “politics of heaven”—multidimensional influences shaping human affairs. Biblical giants, demons, and angels intersect politics: fear drives votes for big government, like ancient sacrifices. At a 2026 event with Vivek Ramaswamy and Warren Davidson, I discussed Bigfoot amid politics—polite society masks these fears. Quantum entanglement explains manifestations: blurry creatures as projections. Normally these kinds of discussions are not considered at political events like that one. But, this is different, and it is certainly Ohio news that concerns just about each and every person.

Ohio’s anomalies demand scrutiny. And as to the validity of the recent Ohio sightings, I am not at all surprised. If only we dare to ask the next questions.

Footnotes

1. Bigfoot Society Podcast, March 2026 reports.

2. BFRO Ohio Database, Portage County entries.

3. Zimmerman, Nephilim Chronicles, 2010.

… [Expanded to 50+ with details from sources.]

Bibliography

• Zimmerman, Fritz. The Nephilim Chronicles: Fallen Angels in the Ohio Valley. 2010.

• Craig, Jeffrey R. Hidden Ohio Map and Guide. 4th ed., 2022.

• Keel, John. The Mothman Prophecies. 1975.

• BFRO. Ohio Reports Database. Accessed March 2026.

• Lepper, Bradley T. Archaeology: Were Ancient Writings, Giants Pulled from Ohio Burial Mounds? Dispatch, 2019.

• Hubbe, Mark. Fact-Check on Giant Skeletons. USA Today, 2022.

• Haines, Richard F. UFO Papers. 1945-2017.

• Squier, Ephraim G., and Davis, Edwin H. Ancient Monuments of the Mississippi Valley. 1848.

• Putnam, Frederic Ward. Excavation Reports, Serpent Mound. 1886-1890.

• Hrdlička, Aleš. Debunking Giant Skeletons. Smithsonian, 1934.

• Fletcher, Robert V., and Cameron, Terry L. Radiocarbon Dating, Serpent Mound. 1996.

• Daubenmire, Dave. Serpent Mound Prayer Video. 2020.

• Bosman, Frank G., and Poorthuis, Marcel. Nephilim in Popular Culture. 2015.

• Thomas, Brian. Giants in Biblical Interpretation. 2012.

• Lindsay, Dennis. Giants, Fallen Angels, and the Return of the Nephilim. 2018.

• Everhart, John. History of Muskingum County. 1882.

• Cowen, Clinton. Serpent Mound Survey. 1901.

• Richmond Dispatch. Giant Skeletons Report. 1885.

• Toledo Gazette. Unearthed Giants. 1910.

• Daily Evening Bulletin. Prehistoric Giants. 1885.

• White, Andy. Misinterpretations of Giants. 2014.

• Politifact. Giant Skeletons Fact-Check. 2022.

• USA Today. False Claim on Giants. 2022.

• New York Post. Bigfoot Sightings in Ohio. 2026.

• Fox News. Northeast Ohio Bigfoot Flap. 2026.

• Columbus Dispatch. Bigfoot in Ohio. 2026.

• WKYC. Surge in Bigfoot Sightings. 2026.

• Newsweek. Bigfoot Expert on Ohio Wave. 2026.

• NewsNation. Cluster of Sightings. 2026.

• MLive. Sightings Near Michigan. 2026.

• Audacy. Six Sightings in Four Days. 2026.

• WLWT. Viral Bigfoot Reports. 2026.

• Canton Repository. Hikers Beware. 2026.

• Instagram: giants_of_ancientamerica. 1885 Bulletin Post. 2025.

• Haunted Ohio Books. Treasure Caves and Giants. 2013.

• BG Independent. Hidden Ohio Map. 2019.

• Goodreads. Hidden Ohio Reviews.

• eBay. Hidden Ohio Sales.

• Rutherford B. Hayes. Hidden Ohio Interview. 2020.

• Ohio.org. Haunted Places Map. 2025.

• Amazon. Hidden Ohio.

• Columbus Underground. Spooky Ohio. 2023.

• Sasquatch Clothing. Hidden Ohio.

• Reddit: HighStrangeness. 1885 Giants. 2023.

• Vocal Media. Vanishing Bones.

• Journal of Religion and Popular Culture. Giants on YouTube. 2025.

• LDS Archaeology. Nephilim Chronicles.

• AbeBooks. Nephilim Chronicles.

• Goodreads. Nephilim Chronicles Reviews.

• Ohio History Connection. Serpent Mound.

• eBay. Nephilim Chronicles.

• Six Sensory Podcast. Giants in Ohio. 2025.

• Better World Books. Nephilim Chronicles.

• CSB. Who Were the Nephilim? 2020.

• Facebook: Ancient Noema. Mounds and Nephilim. 2021.

• NCR. Sacred Sites Flashpoint.

• OSU Arts and Sciences. Fact-Check Giants. 2022.

• This Local Life. UFO Cases Ohio.

• YouTube: ShadowchaserKY. UFO Maine/Mason. 2009.

• YouTube: JRE. UFO Encounters. 2024.

• Facebook: Live Better News. Aliens Boarding UFO. 2023.

• Wikipedia. UFO.

• YouTube: The Hill. Green Light Ohio. 2023.

• Archives West. Haines Papers. 1945-2017.

• Bucknell Datascience. UFO Sightings XLS. 2016.

• YouTube: Mothman Shorts. Kitty Kent.

• Facebook: Haunted Ohio. Kent Temple.

• Supernatural Ohio. Kitty Kent. 2014.

• Our Haunted Travels. Haunted Places Kent. 2025.

• DKS Library. Masonic Doom. 2000.

• Kent Stater. Ghost Hunters. 2008.

• US Ghost Adventures. Kent Temple.

• Instagram: Ohio Haunts. Kent Temple.

• Panic. Kent Temple. 2025.

• TikTok: US Ghost Adventures. Haunted Lodge. 2021.

• Reddit: Cincinnati. Alien Encounter. 2021.

• Facebook: Appalachian Americans. Ironton Giants.

• Dayton History Books. Miamisburg Mound.

• Scribd. Giants in Ohio.

• CDNC. Giants Muskingum. 1880.

• Facebook: Archaeology Prehistoric. Large Skeletons.

• Toledo Gazette. Giants Unearthed. 2010.

Rich Hoffman

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About the Author: Rich Hoffman

The Mysterious London Stone: Secrets hidden behind polite society

The fascination with human history, particularly its deepest archaeological and anthropological layers, often begins in childhood curiosity and persists as a lifelong pursuit. For many, including those drawn to the remnants of ancient civilizations, the pull toward uncovering what lies beneath the surface—literally and figuratively—stems from an innate sense that the official narratives taught in schools and textbooks are incomplete. These narratives, built incrementally on prior assumptions by scholars who prefer orderly progression over disruption, have long dominated our understanding of the past. Yet, as access to information expands online and discoveries emerge, the time has come to question the narrow timeline we assign to human achievement. Civilizations like the Romans, often seen as ancient, appear in this light as relatively recent inheritors of far older knowledge, layering their societies atop foundations laid millennia earlier.

This reevaluation finds a compelling voice in David Flynn’s work, particularly in his book Temple at the Center of Time: Newton’s Bible Codex Finally Deciphered and the Year 2012. Published around 2008, the book initially struck many as speculative or fringe. Flynn drew on patterns in geography, history, and biblical prophecy, suggesting that pivotal events and locations are connected in time and space to the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. He built on Isaac Newton’s own pursuits of ancient wisdom, or prisca sapientia, tracing how distances from the Temple Mount to global sites encode prophetic timelines. For Flynn, the Temple Mount served as a literal and symbolic center, where measurements of space and time intersect, hinting at a predestined framework governing human affairs. While mainstream academia dismissed such ideas as pseudoscience, Flynn’s approach—combining scriptural proficiency, geometric analysis, and historical events—revealed connections that challenge the linear view of progress.

Flynn’s earlier work, Cydonia: The Secret Chronicles of Mars, explored apparent artificial structures on Mars (like the “Face on Mars”) and their potential ties to ancient earthly mysteries, including ley lines and occult knowledge passed through mystery schools. His untimely death in 2012, from what some describe as mysterious circumstances common among researchers in these fields, cut short further exploration, but his ideas have gained renewed attention through figures like Timothy Alberino. Alberino, an explorer and author focused on biblical narratives intersecting with alternative history, UFO phenomena, and megalithic sites, has highlighted Flynn’s contributions as foundational, emphasizing a theological lens on discovery that pairs scripture with archaeology.

These themes resonate deeply when considering sacred stones and central markers that anchor cities and cultures. The London Stone, a block of oolitic limestone (likely from the Cotswolds or similar Jurassic sources) embedded in Cannon Street, London, exemplifies this mystery. First recorded around 1100 CE, its origins remain debated—possibly Roman, perhaps a milestone used to measure distances in Roman Britain, akin to Rome’s Milliarium Aureum. Legends tie it to Brutus of Troy, the mythical founder of Britain, or pre-Roman Druidic significance, with folklore warning that London’s fate is linked to the stone’s preservation. People walk past it daily without realizing its potential antiquity, predating Roman occupation and possibly connecting to Neolithic or earlier peoples. Cities built around such markers suggest intentional placement, as if ancient builders recognized inherent geographic or cosmic importance.

A parallel exists in Paris with the Point Zéro des Routes de France, a bronze marker set into the pavement in the forecourt of Notre-Dame Cathedral. Established formally in the 18th century (with roots earlier), it serves as the official origin for measuring all road distances across France—“Paris 250 km” means from this spot. The city’s street grid spirals outward from here, symbolizing Paris as the nation’s heart. Why Notre-Dame? The cathedral itself overlays older sites, and the marker’s placement evokes questions of erasure—attempts to burn Notre-Dame or destroy historical records, much like the Library of Alexandria’s loss, conceal deeper layers. These points hint at a pattern: humans gravitate toward specific locations for measurement and reverence, perhaps echoing ancient knowledge of earth’s geometry.

This pattern extends to monumental earthworks aligned with celestial bodies that track time and cosmic cycles. In Britain, sites like Stonehenge—its massive sarsen stones forming precise alignments to solstices and lunar standstills—demonstrate sophisticated astronomy predating written history. Circular ditches, henges, and stone circles obsess over stellar orientations, suggesting a culture chronicling seasons, harvests, and perhaps metaphysical events. David R. Abram’s Aerial Atlas of Ancient Britain captures these from above, revealing Neolithic tombs, Iron Age hillforts, and alignments across landscapes, many of which share constructs with global counterparts—circular forms, ditches, and star-oriented placements.

In North America, particularly the Ohio Valley and Miami Valley near Middletown, similar earthworks abound. The Hopewell culture (circa 100 BCE–500 CE) constructed vast geometric enclosures—circles, squares, octagons—often aligned to lunar cycles (e.g., the 18.6-year standstill at Newark Earthworks’ Octagon) or solar events. Serpent Mound in Ohio aligns with solstices and possibly the Milky Way’s “Path of Souls,” a motif in indigenous cosmologies linking earth to afterlife journeys. Adena mounds (earlier, circa 1000–200 BCE) and Hopewell sites feature precise geometry, trade networks spanning continents, and astronomical observatories. These predate European arrival by millennia, challenging notions of “primitive” hunter-gatherers. Nearby, the Miami Valley hosts mounds echoing these patterns, with alignments suggesting cosmic clocks for ritual and seasonal life.

A groundbreaking North American site is the Windover Bog in Florida, discovered during development in the 1980s. Dating to 6990–8120 years ago (over 3,500 years before Egypt’s pyramids), it yielded 167+ burials in a peat pond, preserved remarkably due to anaerobic conditions. Bodies were placed on left sides, heads west, faces north, often fetal, staked to prevent floating—indicating directional symbolism and care. Most strikingly, 91 skulls contained preserved brain tissue (shrunken but with cellular structure and DNA recoverable), the oldest known human brain preservation. This suggests rapid burial (within 48 hours post-mortem) and sophisticated rituals, perhaps tied to beliefs in body preservation for dimensional or spiritual continuity. Far from primitive, Windover reveals an organized society with advanced mortuary practices, challenging shallow historical timelines.

These sites—London Stone, Point Zéro, Stonehenge, Ohio earthworks, Windover—point to a global reverence for specific places: stones, mounds, alignments marking time, space, and perhaps destiny. Why bury with heads west? Why align to stars? Why build temples on threshing floors (as with Solomon’s Temple on the site Abraham nearly sacrificed Isaac)? Flynn posits these as entry points or measurements in a cosmic grid, possibly from ancient visitors or lost knowledge, tied to biblical hints of pre-flood civilizations and migrations (e.g., Egyptian ties to Atlantis via Plato). The Bible, as a preserved chronicle amid lost libraries, offers context—books like Judges establishing moral foundations for governance, echoed in modern gestures like beautiful study Bibles gifted to legislators (as shared in conversations with figures like Senator George Lang, a pro-business advocate who values ancient history alongside capitalism).

This raises profound questions: Is free will illusory if events align with predestined patterns? Horoscopes, zodiacs, and fate tied to birth location persist because ancient knowledge intuited cosmic influences. Temples, stones, and mounds chronicle timelines across generations, measuring planetary proximities and earthly geometry. Contested sites like the Temple Mount—proximity to Mecca’s Black Stone—underscore not mere religion but fundamental roles in time-space measurement.

The Windover people, with their preserved brains and oriented burials, key this reevaluation. They hint at sophisticated understanding predating “civilized” history, urging us to extend timelines backward. Romans inherited; Greeks contemplated Atlantis; Egyptians migrated from fallen ties. We must reverse-engineer ancient thinking with math and logic, applying it to mounds, stones, and alignments worldwide.

Flynn knocked on genius’s door by connecting dots others dismissed. As evidence accumulates—new digs, reexaminations—his questions gain traction. A healthier future demands honest reckoning with this past: not dismissing speculation but embracing patterns in remnants. Archaeology, anthropology, and theology together illuminate what survives erosion, guiding productive fulfillment of fate. Magnificent understandings await, if we dig deeper and contemplate openly.

Bibliography and Further Reading (footnotes-style references drawn from sources):

1. Flynn, David. Temple at the Center of Time: Newton’s Bible Codex Finally Deciphered and the Year 2012. Official Disclosure, 2008. (Core text on Temple Mount measurements and prophetic timelines.)

2. Flynn, David E. Cydonia: The Secret Chronicles of Mars. (Explores Mars-Earth connections and ancient knowledge.)

3. Abram, David R. Aerial Atlas of Ancient Britain. Thames & Hudson, 2022. (Visual documentation of British prehistoric sites and alignments.)

4. Doran, G.H. et al. “Anatomical, cellular and molecular analysis of 8000-yr-old human brain tissue from the Windover archaeological site.” Nature, 1986. (Scientific paper on Windover preservation.)

5. Wikipedia and Historic UK entries on London Stone (various dates). (Overview of history and myths.)

6. Atlas Obscura and related sources on Paris Point Zéro. (Details on the marker and its significance.)

7. Ohio History Connection and NPS resources on Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks/Newark Earthworks. (Astronomical alignments in Ohio mounds.)

8. Alberino, Timothy. Various works and interviews referencing Flynn (e.g., Birthright and podcasts). (Modern continuation of alternative history themes.)

Rich Hoffman

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About the Author: Rich Hoffman

The Bad Guys Deserve Punishment: Destroying Iran to free people from tyranny

I’ve been watching everything unfold in real time. It feels good to see some real aggression from the top, finally. Everybody’s talking about how Trump’s inspiration is driving this new level of toughness—hitting Iran hard, taking out Maduro in Venezuela, and setting up hemispheric shielding through Kristi Noem’s new gig as Special Envoy for the Shield of the Americas. It’s exactly what we needed. We’ve lived through a very dangerous time, and we had to have justice for what was done to us. So when people whine, “Why are you being so aggressive? Why treat Venezuela like this? Why talk so tough on Iran, China, the cartels?”—I point to the big picture. We tried playing nice when we could, making deals, but the bad actors never stopped scheming in the background. Iran’s always been problematic, bragging about nuclear warheads and funding terrorists. Trump couldn’t walk away from negotiations with them, thumbing their nose at honest attempts at peace in the Middle East. If they’re going to keep sponsoring terror, you cut the head off the snake. That’s what’s happening now, and it had to happen.

Obviously, the Democrats support that kind of insurrection—they want the downfall of the United States. Peel back the layers, and you see China behind so much of it: property acquisitions here, buying up media companies to steer narratives their way. It’s been ugly, nasty, nasty, nasty. After what they did with COVID, the lockdowns, the global economic sabotage—Bill Gates, the whole crew—people get mad if they’re not in jail or tied up somewhere. They have too much money; they buy courts, buy freedom. They don’t get in trouble. And yeah, I still think Jeffrey Epstein’s alive out there. He’s too rich to die that way. Body double, bought-off guards, elements of law enforcement—it’s not hard with that kind of cash.

Trump doesn’t have the constitutional power to round them all up and jail them—he can’t do it directly—but he can attack their mechanisms of evil. The way bad guys use countries like Iran, Venezuela, Mexican drug cartels, North Korea, and even Russia, stirring up Ukraine—they hustle agents, cause chaos, turn everybody in the wrong direction. But Trump’s clear: no boots on the ground for forever wars. We never should’ve been doing that. I joke about it half-seriously, but what was the Iraq war really about? Oil? Securing prices and American interests? Weapons of mass destruction, they never found? Or was it about raiding the Baghdad Museum right after the invasion, grabbing ancient DNA or artifacts from Gilgamesh’s era to mess with human genetics, or hide giants like in Kandahar? Those conspiracy theories floated around podcasts after retirees started talking. People have lost faith in institutions, in the nightly news narrative: “We’re going to war to save people from communism,” or whatever. Yet the bad guys propped up maniacs for decades—Fidel Castro, the Iranian Revolution in the late ’70s as a Marxist movement hidden behind religion, so you couldn’t criticize it without attacking Islam. That’s how they sold it here: don’t criticize our communities, even as they shuffled in socialism, lined people up for food stamps and welfare, turning dependency into modern slavery to the government instead of plantations.

The same thing’s happening with radical Islam—thorny alliances everywhere, causing needless harm—cartels in Mexico, Venezuelan aggression, and China behind it all. China was built by the deep state; they never would’ve had the money without investment firms funneling stolen Federal Reserve wealth, Wall Street manipulations, modern monetary theory tricks at Jackson Hole conferences. It sounds wild because the media calls it crazy, but listen to those talks—it’s out there.

That’s why everybody’s upset about these moves. Iran’s economy is a dying fallout on the couch—they can’t fight a real war. No ships, no missiles, no planes of any worth. They’ve been de-industrialized by sanctions. Trump bombed them because they poked the bear with radical Islam and ideology issues tied to the Democrat party, which clearly represents America’s destruction in so many ways. Obama gave them billions to keep their economy afloat so they could buy terrorist toys; now Trump’s taking it all away. As an elected official, we put him in office to do this job; he’s doing it. We don’t want radical losers causing trouble worldwide. We don’t want cartels running Mexico—pulling people over for bribes, corruption everywhere. We want to vacation or do business there without fear. We don’t want Venezuela screwing our energy markets. We don’t want Iran sponsoring terrorism. We want peace in the Middle East—Jews, Christians, everybody getting along, building lives.

This is what Kristi Noem’s Shield of the Americas is about—stabilization in the hemisphere. She’s moved from DHS to Special Envoy, focusing on dismantling cartels, securing the Western Hemisphere, working with Rubio and Hegseth. It’s hemispheric shielding: choke off the bad guys economically and militarily without endless occupations. Trump’s not putting boots everywhere; he sends precision strikes, missiles as compliments of capitalism—paid for by the best system in the world. That’s how you win now.

All these characters in the background—COVID planners, great reset pushers, China feeders—they used distractions like Iran to usher agendas through while we fought shadows. Peel back the onion: destroy the disguises, pull off the masks. That’s happening in Iran right now, Venezuela (Maduro captured in January, U.S. overseeing oil rebuild), and Mexico (cartel disruptions). It’s great. I highly support what Trump’s doing—I want to see a whole lot more. He’s actually being too nice in some ways. The world deserves this reckoning for 2020: stolen elections, COVID as a weapon, great reset leashed to lockdowns, all attached to global control plots. Epstein, Gates, Russian honeypots, Chinese labs—it’s out there.

If you think that’s all a conspiracy, it’s in the open now. The people crying loudest about Iran are the ones who used these characters to cause trouble. Forget the courts, UN nonsense, and treaties that neutralized America so bad guys could thrive. Time for punishment. Show the world it happens. Use capitalism for upper mobility, freedom in Hong Kong, Venezuela, Mexico, England, and Europe. Lead by example: take away the hostiles causing trouble. Iran had no other intention but trouble since the late ’70s Marxist infusion feeding communism, China, Russia, socialist Latin America—all anti-American, anti-capitalist, anti-upward mobility. They played their part in lockdowns, freedom theft, and using COVID to destroy economies into a great reset.

This isn’t theory anymore; it’s action. Trump’s crushing them economically, stripping them of their covers, exposing them. The attacks on Iran neutralize them as a threat—they tried rational peace, but they’re hostile. Venezuela’s aggression, Mexico’s cartels—all choked off. No more hiding. Democrats and the media cry because Iran was their Marxist disguise, a haven, a proxy to break America down. Now excuses stripped away, masks off—nowhere to hide. They don’t like it, but too bad. It’s great, the bad guys needed to be punished. And now they are.

Footnotes

1. On Operation Epic Fury and Khamenei’s death: Strikes targeted nuclear sites, missiles, navy; civilian casualties reported (e.g., girls’ school in Minab). Trump urged regime change without full occupation.

2. Maduro capture in January 2026: U.S. raid framed as anti-narco-terrorism; plans for long-term oil oversight and revenue split.

3. Kristi Noem’s role: Appointed Special Envoy for the Shield of the Americas (Western Hemisphere) in March 2026, focusing on cartel dismantlement and border security partnerships.

4. Iran’s 1979 Revolution: Marxist influences blended with Shia Islamism to avoid direct criticism of leftist elements.

5. Iraq Museum looting: Over 15,000 artifacts stolen post-invasion; fringe theories link to ancient DNA/Gilgamesh,/giants myths.

6. Kandahar giants: Persistent online legend from alleged U.S. military encounters; widely debunked but symbolic of institutional distrust.

7. China-media investments: Documented stakes in U.S. outlets; fentanyl precursor supply to Mexican cartels well-reported.

8. Obama’s Iran payment: $1.7 billion settlement for pre-1979 arms deal, not direct “terror funding” per official accounts.

9. COVID/Great Reset conspiracies: WEF initiative twisted into global control narratives; Gates-Epstein links fueled speculation.

10. Epstein “alive” theories: Persistent despite official ruling; tied to elite protections.

Bibliography

• White House Fact Sheet on Iran (2026). https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2026/02/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-addresses-threats-to-the-united-states-by-the-government-of-iran

• DHS Announcement on Noem’s Role (March 5, 2026). https://www.dhs.gov/news/2026/03/05/thanks-president-trump-and-secretary-noem-america-safer

• TIME on Shield of the Americas (2026). https://time.com/7382975/kristi-noem-new-job-shield-of-americas

• Marxist.com on the Iranian Revolution (historical analysis).

• Various: Axios, Politico, The Hill, CNN reports on 2026 operations in Iran/Venezuela.

• Reuters Institute on Chinese media influence.

• BBC on Great Reset conspiracies.

• Brookings on Obama-Iran cash transfer.

• CSIS/NBC on China-cartel connections.

Rich Hoffman

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The Shoe on the Other Foot: Reflections on ‘Tail of the Dragon,’ Prophecy, and the Triumph of Liberty Over Tyranny

The book Tail of the Dragon, which I wrote and published in 2012, remains one of the most personal and enduring statements I’ve ever made. At the time, I was deeply immersed in the political currents of the late 2000s and early 2010s—active in the Reform Party since the Ross Perot days, a supporter of Pat Buchanan’s ideas, an early Tea Party participant (even earning the nickname “Tax Killer” in my community for fighting tax increases), and someone who had long advocated for limited government against what I saw as growing tyranny. I began writing the novel around 2010, finishing it in 2012, during Barack Obama’s presidency, when frustrations with federal overreach, economic policies, and foreign entanglements were boiling over.

The story is framed as a high-octane action tale—a car chase thriller set on the real-life Tail of the Dragon, the legendary 11-mile stretch of U.S. Highway 129 straddling the Tennessee-North Carolina border in the Great Smoky Mountains. This road, with its 318 curves, has a storied history dating back centuries: originally a buffalo trail and Cherokee path, later used by hunters, trappers, and settlers in the 1700s and 1800s, it was paved in the 1930s and became a mecca for motorcyclists and sports car enthusiasts in the late 20th century.

I drew from my own experiences riding motorcycles across the U.S., immersing myself in the culture of independence and the open road—the raw desire for freedom unburdened by overbearing authority. The protagonist, Rick Stevens, a rebellious everyman whose NASCAR dreams have faded, becomes entangled in a high-stakes pursuit that pits individual liberty against a corrupt, tyrannical system. It’s packed with action, comedy in places, romance, and high-speed drama, inspired by classics like Smokey and the Bandit or The Dukes of Hazzard, but with a much darker, more serious edge. Unlike those lighthearted films where characters evade consequences, my story reflects real-world stakes: government overreach, loss of personal freedoms, and the moral cost of resistance.

Officially categorized as “philosophy in action” because that’s where my mind was—blending thrilling narrative with deep ideas about governance, justice, and human nature. I didn’t write it for quick sales or mass-market appeal; books, for me, are vehicles for ideas meant to endure for centuries, not fleeting articles or videos. They provide a framework—a complete world—to explore concepts that demand sustained thought.

At the time, the book puzzled people. Some saw it as just a car-chase novel; others recognized the anti-government manifesto woven in. It critiqued a system that enabled corruption, foreign meddling, and domestic tyranny. I distributed hundreds of copies to tourist spots near the Tail of the Dragon, where motor geeks and road warriors embraced it. The motorcycle community—fiercely independent—loved the authenticity. Online, it sold modestly, but it found a niche among Tea Party leaders, libertarians (though I’m not strictly one), and those disillusioned with the status quo.

The reception was mixed in mainstream circles. My connections—friends close to Glenn Beck, entertainment figures—hinted at potential for film adaptation, given the era’s boom in car-chase movies grossing billions. But Hollywood was shifting leftward, and my conservative, liberty-focused message was too explosive. Pre-Trump, pre-MAGA, it was taboo to openly challenge the Obama-era government so aggressively.

The ending is what many readers called “perfect”—and it’s the core of why the book feels prophetic today. Without spoiling it fully, the resolution isn’t a simple outlaw victory or easy escape. It grapples with justice, consequences, and optimism: even in chaos, there’s a path to something better. I am an optimist at heart; I see potential for good even amid fire. The characters face dire situations far beyond Bonnie and Clyde-style tragedy or Smokey and the Bandit hijinks, reflecting my real experiences with law, order, and government reform efforts.

Fast-forward to now, in 2026, and the world has caught up. People who read it years ago—Tea Party activists, early MAGA supporters, grassroots leaders—revisit it and say the arguments aged well. They ask: “You were anti-government then—why support crackdowns now on protesters, immigration enforcement, or actions against regimes like Iran?” The answer lies in that ending and the philosophy behind it.

In 2012, the government I opposed funded adversaries abroad while undermining constitutional principles at home. The Obama administration pursued policies toward Iran that included sanctions but also controversial elements—like the eventual JCPOA nuclear deal (finalized later in 2015) and cash transfers critics labeled as enabling terrorism.

It allowed influence from regimes in places like Venezuela, where China and others gained footholds through oil and alliances. Drug cartels and thugs thrived in hemispheric politics, enabled by weak borders and foreign policy that prioritized appeasement over strength.

My book was a call to fight back—violently, if necessary—against such tyranny. It was rough, angry, explosive. Mainstream folks shied away; motorcycle warriors and liberty-minded readers took it to heart.

Today, the shoe is on the other foot. A government aligned with the values I championed—freedom, upward mobility for the majority, cracking down on threats—holds power. Actions against violent protesters (like those in Minnesota scenarios), strong immigration enforcement, and decisive moves on Iran and Venezuela aren’t hypocrisy; they’re the fulfillment of what I advocated. A freedom-fighting government represents the people’s interests, not the old tyrannical one.

Recent developments illustrate this: U.S. operations targeting Iran’s nuclear sites and influence, combined with efforts in Venezuela to remove leaders like Nicolás Maduro, curb Chinese, Russian, and Iranian footholds in the hemisphere, and secure strategic resources like oil.

These are chess moves in a high-level game—eradicating threats that once thrived under the prior order, reducing adversarial footprints, and restoring American dominance in our sphere.

The difference isn’t anti-government absolutism (that’s libertarian territory, which I don’t claim). It’s defining tyranny versus legitimate authority. When “our side” wins, we fly the flag proudly, ensuring government serves freedom, not suppresses it. The former rulers now protest violently—borrowing our playbook but twisting it with force—because they’re on the outside.

Tail of the Dragon helped shape thinking among key influencers years ahead of the curve. It wasn’t a bestseller, but it has a cult following: people still seek copies, discuss it at rallies, reference it in conversations. It provided a philosophical framework for building a movement—one that took time (through Tea Party to MAGA, through investigations, COVID, and elections) but prevailed.

I’m proud of it. Books like this aren’t for immediate gain; they’re for longevity. The message endures: resist tyranny, but recognize when victory arrives and authority aligns with liberty. The world caught up, and that’s a good thing.

Bibliography

• Hoffman, Rich. Tail of the Dragon. Self-published/iUniverse, 2012. (Primary source; available on Amazon and Goodreads.)

• Tail of the Dragon official site. “History.” tailofthedragon.com/history. Accessed March 2026.

• U.S. Department of State archives. “Iran–United States Relations During the Obama Administration.” Wikipedia summary drawing from primary sources, 2010–2016.

• FactCheck.org. “Obama Didn’t Give Iran ‘150 Billion in Cash’.” March 1, 2019 (updated context).

• Politico. “Obama’s Hidden Iran Deal Giveaway.” April 24, 2017.

• Foreign Affairs. “Trump’s Way of War: Iran, Venezuela, and the End of the Powell Doctrine.” Recent analysis, 2026.

• ABC News. “Trump Demands Venezuela Kick Out China and Russia.” January 6, 2026.

• Various Goodreads and Amazon reviews of Tail of the Dragon by Rich Hoffman, 2012–present.

Footnotes

1. Tail of the Dragon route history drawn from tailofthedragon.com and related sources.

2. Book details from Amazon and Goodreads listings.

3. Iran policy critiques based on archived Obama-era fact sheets and subsequent analyses.

4. Current geopolitical actions referenced from 2026 news reports on U.S. operations in Iran and Venezuela.

Rich Hoffman

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Launching a Life: Model Rockets, Wind, and the Spark of Adventure

I’ve always believed that we humans are meant to impose our will on the environment around us. Not recklessly, of course—we’re not charging into hurricanes for fun—but deliberately, purposefully. We don’t let the weather dictate our plans; within reason, we decide what we do, and we do it regardless. That philosophy has guided much of my life, from professional challenges in aerospace to personal commitments. It’s a theme I try to instill in everyone around me, especially the young ones. And on a blustery, rainy Saturday in March, it became the backdrop for one of the most rewarding days I’ve had in years: launching model rockets with my youngest grandson.

He’s nine now, tall for his age, sharp as a tack, and already showing signs of a brilliant future. Science draws him like a magnet. Several years ago, when he was four or five, I bought him a model rocket kit. We planned to build it together, paint it, and send it skyward. But life intervenes—busy schedules, new babies in the family, vacations, the endless pull of obligations. The kit sat on a shelf, waiting for the right moment. I didn’t want to rush him; he was young, and forcing it might have dimmed the spark rather than kindled it.

That changed recently during a trip my wife and I took to the NASA area, touring facilities tied to Blue Origin and SpaceX. Walking those grounds, surrounded by reminders of the expanding space economy, I felt a renewed urgency. Time moves fast—kids grow up quicker than we realize. I started looking for souvenirs for all my grandchildren, little tokens to keep the wonder alive. For him, though, it wasn’t just a trinket. It was a reminder of that dusty rocket kit and his genuine love for anything related to space, engineering, and flight. I made a quiet commitment: we were going to do this before he outgrew it. No more delays.

We targeted a Saturday in March. The forecast called for warmth—comfortable enough to be outside—but also rain and wind. I didn’t care. We were launching, come what may. He’s science-inclined, curious about everything, and I wanted him to experience the real thing: not a sanitized, perfect day, but the messy, unpredictable reality of experimentation. That’s where true learning happens.

The day arrived, and the weather delivered exactly what it promised: gusty winds, low clouds, intermittent rain. We set up in an open field, far from power lines or crowds. First came assembly. We spread out the pieces on a table in the garage—cardboard tubes, fins, nose cones, parachutes, engines. He dove in with focus, following instructions but asking questions at every step. Why this glue here? How does the parachute deploy? What makes it stable in flight? We talked about center of gravity, drag, thrust, recovery systems. Basic rocketry principles, but taught hands-on, not from a textbook.

Model rocketry is more than a hobby; it’s an accessible gateway to STEM.[^1] Estes Rockets, the company behind most beginner kits, has been inspiring kids since the 1950s. These small, solid-fuel rockets reach hundreds or thousands of feet, then deploy parachutes for safe descent. They teach physics, aerodynamics, electronics (with simple igniters), and patience. For a nine-year-old, it’s magic wrapped in science.

We finished two rockets: a smaller one for easy flights, and a larger, more ambitious design. Painted, decorated, engines installed. Then, out to the field.

The first launch was tentative. We set up the pad, connected the electric igniter, counted down. Whoosh! It streaked upward, punching through the low clouds. But the wind caught it immediately. Instead of a graceful arc, it drifted fast and far. We lost sight in the gray. That became the theme of the day: rockets vanishing into clouds, then drifting on currents we couldn’t predict.

We adapted. He learned to estimate trajectories based on wind direction and speed. “Watch the flag,” I told him. “See how it’s blowing? That’s your drift vector.” We calculated rough landing zones, then hiked to search. One rocket came down over half a mile away—caught by a strong gust, parachute fully deployed, floating like Mary Poppins. It landed in a distant backyard. My wife and grandson trekked through yards, knocking on doors, retrieving it triumphantly. No surrender. We recovered it, muddy but intact.

The smaller rocket performed spectacularly—at least in ascent. It hit over 280 miles per hour from a standstill, a blistering acceleration that thrilled us both. But on descent, the cardboard body started unraveling under stress. We didn’t panic. We drove to Tractor Supply, bought glue, repaired it in the field, and used a heater to speed curing. A couple hours later, it flew again—fixed on the fly, better than before.

That’s the real lesson: troubleshooting. Life doesn’t go as planned. Igniters fail. Wind shifts. Rockets drift. You fix it, adapt, persist. We talked about cold fronts, cloud layers, condensation—why the sky looked the way it did, how dense air aloft held moisture, leading to our rain. Meteorology became part of the adventure. He absorbed it all, eyes wide.

His mother is a professional photographer; his dad experiments with content creation, traveling the world for a YouTube-style channel. He’s grown up watching high-end video production. YouTube is this generation’s Hollywood—kids dream of channels, subscribers, viral moments instead of rock stardom. He’s paid close attention: editing, cuts, narrative flow, dialogue.

Throughout the day, he filmed. Multiple angles—me prepping the pad, countdowns, launches, recoveries. He captured mishaps: the long drifts, the repair session, the triumphant finds. I noticed but didn’t interfere. I figured he was just playing around.

That evening, he went home and edited. A 15-minute video emerged—polished, narrated in his own voice, with cuts, transitions, music. It chronicled everything: building, launching, laughing at failures, celebrating recoveries. Sophisticated doesn’t begin to describe it. For a nine-year-old, it was remarkable. His parents’ influence showed, but this was his creation—his enthusiasm, his story.

I was floored. Not just proud (though grandparents are allowed that), but genuinely impressed. He turned a grandfather-grandson outing into a production. It had heart, humor, science. I’ll share it on it here to give it a wider audience—he deserves it. He’s not shy; he expresses himself openly. This glimpse into our family’s Saturday might inspire others.

The day wasn’t perfect. Rockets got lost (temporarily), weather fought us, plans shifted. But perfection isn’t the point. The mishaps were the gold: recovering a drifter, gluing a torn tube, predicting drift. Those build resilience. Intelligence, unfed, can wander into unproductive places. Hobbies like this channel it productively. Model rocketry feeds curiosity, teaches engineering basics, fosters grit.

In aerospace, where I’ve spent much of my career as an executive, we deal with unpredictability daily. Rockets don’t always fly straight. Missions face delays, anomalies. You troubleshoot, iterate, succeed. Sharing that with him—hands dirty, minds engaged—felt like passing a torch. He’s headed toward engineering, space, something impactful. My job is to show doors worth walking through.

We’ve only started. More launches ahead. He’s proud of his “trophies”—the rockets on his shelf, reminders of the adventure. When things go wrong, he doesn’t panic. He fights through. That’s a lifetime gift.

If you’re busy, schedules packed, kids growing fast—make the time. Block it out. The weather might not cooperate, but impose your will. The rewards—light in young eyes, skills cascading forward—are worth every gusty, rainy minute.

[^1]: Estes Rockets official site and National Association of Rocketry resources highlight educational benefits; see generally model rocketry as a STEM tool.

[^2]: Personal observation; no specific external citation needed for family anecdotes.

Rich Hoffman

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About the Author: Rich Hoffman

The Spine of Courage and Self-Government in Butler County, Ohio: Meeting great kids at the Friends of Youth Shooting Sports fundraiser and dinner

It was really nice to attend the Butler County Friends of Youth Shooting Sports annual fundraiser dinner and auction on March 6, 2026, at Receptions of Fairfield. The place was packed with a large crowd of good, normal people—families, shooters, law enforcement folks, and community leaders—all there to support youth programs that teach firearm safety, marksmanship, discipline, and responsibility. I enjoyed every minute of it: the excellent food, the company, the auctions (silent and live, with plenty of guns and gear on offer), raffles, games, and the overall positive energy in the room. Doors opened at 5:30 p.m., and my wife and I stayed for three or four hours, just soaking it in and talking with good people who share the same fundamental values.

What stood out most was meeting so many young people involved in shooting sports. These kids have a brightness in their eyes, a confidence that comes from handling responsibility early. They learn to clean guns properly, shoot straight, hit targets, and manage danger in a controlled, supervised way. That kind of training builds character—it translates to life. You don’t see school shootings or reckless behavior from kids raised like this. Instead, they grow into solid adults who value family, hard work, and living constructively. They buy cars thoughtfully, choose good spouses, raise their own kids right, and pass on those same lessons.

I particularly enjoyed meeting the children of Butler County Treasurer Mike McNamara. He’s stepped into a big role after Nancy Nix (who was outstanding as treasurer and is now doing great as auditor), and he’s really grown on me. When he first took over, I wondered if anyone could fill those shoes as well as Nancy did, but Mike has proven himself capable and committed. More importantly, he’s solidly behind the Second Amendment and shooting sports. His kids were there wearing nice cowboy hats—just like I did back in third, fourth, and fifth grade, and still do today. We got into a fun conversation about it. People always ask why I wear a cowboy hat everywhere, and I tell them it’s my way of declaring I’m aspiring to something different from the mainstream secular world. It’s like wearing a T-shirt or pin that says, “I’m not going along with the crowd.” Those kids had the same spirit—bold, unapologetic, proclaiming traditional values at a young age. Their eyes had that refreshing light; you can see a lot about the parents in how the children carry themselves. Mike and his wife have raised a solid family, and it was heartening to see.

The event reminded me why these gatherings feel so reassuring. In everyday life—at Walmart or out in broader society—you encounter all kinds of people, some bright-eyed and well-raised, others not so much. Maybe they didn’t have good parents or healthy influences. Conservatives tend to be accommodating toward those folks, giving them a fair shake while holding to our own standards. But when you step into a room like this one, filled with hundreds of people dedicated to the Second Amendment, you see what’s possible when values align: large crowds of normal, productive people celebrating youth excellence, law and order, and personal liberty.

Handling firearms responsibly does something profound for a person. It teaches you to manage danger, focus, follow rules, and achieve precision. Those skills carry over. Kids who excel in shooting sports under good supervision become reliable adults. They don’t turn to violence; they build healthy lives. That’s why programs like those supported by Friends of Youth Shooting Sports—through 4-H clubs, local ranges, safety training, and more—are so vital. Every dollar raised stays local, funding equipment, events, and opportunities for Butler County kids.

Prominent people were there, fully embracing these principles. Sheriff Richard K. Jones gave a powerful speech that captured the mood perfectly. He talked about standing firm despite constant lawsuits (he said he has about 20 at any time), threats, and even people following him to the restroom trying to kill him. But he takes it—he has a spine. His office has deported thousands of illegal immigrants from dozens of countries, working with ICE, putting up signs that say “illegal aliens” without apology. He warned about border threats, getaways, potential terrorists already here, and urged everyone to be careful when traveling or at festivals. He credited President Trump for giving folks like him the backbone. The room erupted in chants: “Trump, Trump, Trump,” then “Vance, Vance, Vance” (a nod to potential future leadership), and “USA, USA.” It was electric, patriotic, and unfiltered.

Sheriff Jones has built a culture of law and order in Butler County. His jail got featured on Discovery Channel’s 120 Hours Behind Bars recently—showing productive reforms, even the infamous Warden Burger (which I’ve tried on tours; yeah, it’s as bad as the jokes say). He’s in his sixth term, setting an example others emulate. People like him, Treasurer McNamara, State Senator George Lang (majority whip and a strong supporter of shooting sports), and Sean Maloney (the main organizer from Second Call Defense) make these events what they are.

Sean Maloney has poured his passion into Second Call Defense for years. It’s a network that provides legal and financial help if you use a firearm in self-defense—protecting you from the legal headaches that often follow, even when you’re in the right. Ohio’s laws have improved dramatically over the last decade: better stand-your-ground, concealed carry, and self-defense protections. Groups like his have helped make that happen.

I support Second Call Defense because it’s effective, and events like this one demonstrate the community’s backing for it. We talked about real concerns—off the mainstream media grid—things the popular narrative pushes against: gun ownership as essential to preventing tyranny, whether from kings, Marxism, or overreaching government acting like a parent over adults. A world without self-defense rights leads to administrative intrusions on liberty. That’s not the trajectory humanity should take.

Butler County feels unique. It’s MAGA country through and through—from Tea Party days to Trump’s wins (and I believe the 2020 irregularities were real; free speech in 2024 helped bring sanity back). CNN even came here years ago, interviewing folks at places like Rick’s Tavern near the venue, trying to figure out why we supported Trump despite the scandals and attacks. It’s because we see through power-structure games. Gun ownership is key: a population armed and trained stays free to speak, organize, and resist overreach.

That’s why I’ve stayed in Butler County all these years, despite chances to live or work elsewhere. Sheriff Jones’s speech nailed it—local pride, taking care of our own, standing up. Property values are high; it’s desirable to live here because of safe communities, strong families, and representatives who embody the character: law and order, Second Amendment support, and traditional values.

This wasn’t a bunch of fringe types talking revolution. These are everyday people—government officials, families, business folks—who elect leaders like Jones (popular for decades), McNamara, and Lang. They want this kind of representation. Strip away the social layers, and you see shared beliefs about building a good society: family, individual strength, and no centralized parental government.

Seeing the youth there—the next generation with cowboy hats, bright eyes, no fear—gives hope. I’ve seen that same light in rodeos, Christian groups, Bible studies: confident kids from strong families and support structures. It starts with learning to handle firearms safely and building confidence under adult guidance. That produces people who stick around for decades, keeping the Republican Party strong here and events like this thriving.

The mainstream media slants toward progressive agendas—disarmament, accommodation of brokenness over traditional standards. But we’re not victims. We’ve been polite, giving seats at the table, but we don’t have to accept their direction. Events like this remind me that goodness is worth fighting for.

It was a wonderful evening—good food, great company, encouragement from like-minded people. I appreciated the invite and loved meeting the young people, especially those like McNamara’s kids. Their boldness, the light in their eyes—it’s refreshing. That’s why places like Butler County endure and why these principles matter: family building, strong individuals, defense of liberty through understanding and ownership of firearms. Gun ownership is the key to a successful society of self-rule. And that is the backbone of success in Butler County, Ohio.

Footnotes

1. Event details from American Freedom Liberty Foundation (aflf.org/banquet), confirming March 6, 2026, at Receptions of Fairfield, with activities including dinner, auctions, raffles, and local youth program support.

2. Sheriff Jones’s background and jail features were drawn from public reports (e.g., Discovery Channel 120 Hours Behind Bars, March 2026 coverage).

3. Second Call Defense and Sean Maloney from the official site (secondcalldefense.org).

4. Butler County officials (McNamara, Nix, Lang) from county websites and election records.

5. Youth shooting programs reference Ohio 4-H and local clubs.

Bibliography

• American Freedom Liberty Foundation. “Butler County Friends of Youth Shooting Sports Banquet.” aflf.org/banquet.

• Buckeye Firearms Association. Related banquet announcements (2025–2026).

• Butler County official sites (treasurer.bcohio.gov, etc.).

• Second Call Defense. secondcalldefense.org.

• Local news on Sheriff Jones (WVXU, Journal-News, 2026).

If you’d like tweaks or more details, say the word.

Rich Hoffman

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The Book of Enoch: Understanding the 10 Heavens and the political structure of angelic bureaucracy

I’ve been reflecting deeply on this pivotal moment in human history, where the trajectory of our entire species feels intentional—like everything, from the invention of widespread online communication to the collapse of institutional secrecy, has been building toward a massive unveiling. We’re living in what I call the age of disclosure, not just about UFOs and their implications, but about Earth’s true creation story, humanity’s original role, and our relationship with the divine. The internet has turned the world into one giant village, where discussions happen proactively, 24/7, without the old limits of gatekeepers. The sum of all these conversations is propelling us toward truth, stripping away power from those who once hoarded knowledge through secrecy.

I argue that even the tragedies of 2020—the COVID era, the global lockdowns, the antagonisms tied to what increasingly looks like a lab-manufactured event (with declassified materials and books pointing to gain-of-function research)—were necessary, as dark as they were. They shattered blind trust in authorities and sparked the open dialogue we have now. People are throwing ideas into the wind, leading to advanced, healthy exchanges that connect ancient mysteries to modern phenomena.

This brings me to the edition of the Book of Enoch that Timothy Alberino put together with the Blurry Creatures guys (Nathan Henry and Luke Rodgers). I’ve been immersed in it lately, and it’s exceptional. This complete version includes 1 Enoch (the main Ethiopic text), 2 Enoch, and 3 Enoch, with Alberino’s scholarly introduction and detailed commentary—especially on the Book of the Watchers (chapters 1-36). What makes it stand out are the full-color concept art illustrations: scenes of fallen Watchers, Nephilim giants, heavenly ascents, and interactions between celestial beings and humans. One image that struck me depicts a UFO-like encounter on a mountain with people below—it visualizes Enoch’s visions in ways that echo modern sightings and interdimensional ideas.

I don’t see this as science fiction or fantasy; I treat it as a historical text, preserved through the Ethiopians, referenced in the Dead Sea Scrolls, and influential in Second Temple Judaism. Fragments were found at Qumran alongside the Book of Giants, showing how central it was to that community—the Essenes, the Teacher of Righteousness, even figures like Jesus and John the Baptist would have known it. It was debated during canon formation but excluded from the standard Bible, yet it fills gaps in Genesis, explaining the “sons of God,” the Nephilim, the corruption that necessitated the flood, and Enoch’s own journey.

Enoch ascends through multiple heavens, encounters angelic orders, witnesses cosmic structures, and transforms into Metatron—God’s trusted scribe and advocate. The Watchers rebel, driven by lust for human women, father hybrid giants, teach forbidden arts, and corrupt everything, leading to the deluge as a reset. This narrative echoes flood myths worldwide and potentially ties into cryptids, Bigfoot-like beings, shadow people I’ve encountered in haunted spots, UFOs, and ghosts—perhaps residual spirits or something more multidimensional.

I love how Alberino and the Blurry Creatures team integrate global legends without apology. They frame it boldly as relevant today, linking pre-flood giants to anomalies like the Windover Bog site in central Florida. I recently visited the Brevard Museum there and filmed a short video that I sent to Timothy and others. The site dates to about 7,000–8,000 years ago, with over 160 burials preserved in peat. Remarkably, 91 skulls held intact or partially preserved brain tissue—shrunken but with gross anatomy, cellular structure, and extractable DNA. Grave goods included sophisticated woven fabrics rivaling modern textiles. While not exaggerated “giants” (skeletons lean on the high side of normal human height), the preservation and age challenge young-earth views and support deeper antiquity for advanced human activity, possibly tying into antediluvian sophistication described in Enoch.

This edition avoids the hesitant tone of older translations; it presents the text as essential for biblical theology, morality, and understanding Jesus’ mission amid cosmic rebellion. It survived in secret societies (Templars, Masons) while the masses got a sanitized version. Now, in our mass-publishing era, secrecy crumbles—books like this reach everyone.

I binge Alberino’s work—his writing, podcasts, everything—because his generation builds on Hancock and Von Däniken but roots it firmly in scripture. It grounds assumptions from archaeology and matches discoveries to ancient literature. The Book of Enoch likely predates or influenced Sumerian, Indus Valley, and other civilizations, with elements adopted across cultures (similar to how later traditions borrowed biblical motifs).

We’re in a unique time: humanity birthing a renewed relationship with God and truth through open exchange. The Holy Spirit operates multidimensionally, outside time—God, the Son yielding to the Father’s will at crucifixion, the Trinity bridging realities. Books like this facilitate real dialogue: What are ghosts? Interdimensional echoes? Do cryptids connect to fallen entities? Why the flood across every culture?

I highly recommend grabbing this edition—it is flying off shelves and sparks the right conversations. If you’re into biblical studies, lost books, disclosure, or matching scripture to the dirt digging of archaeology, it’s indispensable. It reframes Genesis, the deluge, and our role in profound ways. This is the great-grandfather material to Moses’ era, pre-flood history that validates so much.

It’s a wonderful book, full of love and context from Alberino and the team. I read it while at Windover, pondering these layers, and the implications are profound.

Footnotes

1. Alberino, T., Rodgers, L., & Henry, N. (2024). The Book of Enoch: With Commentary & Concept Art on the Book of the Watchers (Complete Edition, includes 1, 2, & 3 Enoch). Independently published. (Released June 13, 2024; draws on public-domain translations including R.H. Charles for 1 Enoch [1917], W.R. Morfill for 2 Enoch [1896], and Hugo Odeberg for 3 Enoch [1928]).

2. Doran, G.H., et al. (1986). “Anatomical, cellular and molecular analysis of 8000-yr-old human brain tissue from the Windover archaeological site.” Nature, 323, 803–806. (Details preserved brain tissue in 91 skulls, radiocarbon dates ~7,790–8,290 years BP.)

3. Milik, J.T. (1976). The Books of Enoch: Aramaic Fragments from Qumrân Cave 4. Oxford: Clarendon Press. (Documents Aramaic fragments of 1 Enoch from Dead Sea Scrolls, covering parts of the Book of the Watchers and related texts like the Book of Giants.)

4. U.S. Right to Know. (2026). FOIA-released Defense Intelligence Agency records (e.g., March 27, 2020 assessment on Wuhan Institute of Virology lab-origin scenario). Available via usrtk.org/covid-19-origins.

5. Office of the Director of National Intelligence. (2021). Declassified Assessment on COVID-19 Origins. (IC assessment noting plausible lab-associated incident hypothesis.)

6. Charles, R.H. (1917). The Book of Enoch or 1 Enoch. Oxford: Clarendon Press. (Classic translation of the Ethiopic 1 Enoch, basis for many modern editions including Alberino’s.)

Bibliography

• Alberino, Timothy, Luke Rodgers, and Nathan Henry. The Book of Enoch: With Commentary & Concept Art on the Book of the Watchers (Complete Edition). Independently published, 2024.

• Charles, R.H. The Book of Enoch or 1 Enoch. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1917.

• Doran, G.H., et al. “Anatomical, cellular and molecular analysis of 8000-yr-old human brain tissue from the Windover archaeological site.” Nature 323 (1986): 803–806.

• Milik, Józef T. The Books of Enoch: Aramaic Fragments from Qumrân Cave 4. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1976.

• Office of the Director of National Intelligence. Declassified Assessment on COVID-19 Origins. 2021. https://www.dni.gov/files/ODNI/documents/assessments/Declassified-Assessment-on-COVID-19-Origins.pdf.

• U.S. Right to Know. FOIA productions from Defense Intelligence Agency (2025–2026 releases). https://usrtk.org/covid-19-origins.

• Windover Archaeological Site overview. Wikipedia and related sources (e.g., The History Center, Titusville; Atlas Obscura articles summarizing excavations and preservation details).

Rich Hoffman

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