Turns out using the URL filter on my router sufficiently blocked QB from accessing the internet, thus the popups stopped.  The problem at that point was it took quite a while for QB to launch, waiting for all the timeouts to clear.

Another search lead me to this page:  https://quickbooks.intuit.com/learn-support/en-us/help-article/multi-user-mode/set-firewall-security...

Step 3 details how to enable QB through windows firewall.  I used this information to do exactly the opposite.  Success.  QB launches quickly and the popups are gone.  This will cause Update Quick Books Desktop to show the Error #120007, and that is the desired and expected result.  I believe QB doesn't detect the internet, so it doesn't try to access it.

As a really small business, I don't need any of the internet functions QB offers.  This will allow me to continue using QB Desktop without harassment to upgrade to online (crazy expensive for a small business like mine).