How's the IT job market doing? Which way's the wind blowing? It seems like things are getting better in fits and starts, but I'll bet a lot of people are going to chime in to ask what planet I'm on when I say that. Still, it seems tech professionals are becoming more confident about their prospects. Harris Interactive found 38 percent say the economy is getting stronger, up from 32 percent in the first quarter. That confidence seems to be turning into something like wanderlust, since notable chunks of IT workers say they're "likely" to look for a new job in the next year. (By "notable," I mean 61 percent of those earning between $35,000 and $50,000 a year, 27 percent of those making $50,000 - $75,000, and 36 percent of those making more than $75,000.) You could argue all those salary cuts or suspended raises are coming home to roost. [ComputerWorld]

We talk about networking a lot here on Dice News. We just think it's one of the most important tactics to use in finding both your next job and developing your long-term career path. If you're in New York, Business Insider has a look at the bars where you're most likely to meet tech leaders. Chelsea and the East Village seem like the most happening places. (If you want to check one of them out, send me an e-mail. I'll buy.) [Business Insider]

Fewer out-of-work job seekers are starting their own businesses. Challenger, Gray & Christmas says only 3.7 percent of unemployed workers are starting their own companies rather than look for a job. That's down from 7.6 percent in the first half of 2009 and 9.6 percent in the second half. The previous low was the 4.4 percent rate seen during the second half of 2008. It's not clear why this is happening, but one thing's for sure: Fewer start-ups means fewer new jobs. [ReadWriteWeb]

If, on the other hand, you're thinking of starting your own venture, here's a bit of inspiration: Two Brooklyn designers created the Antenn-aid, a little band-aid-like sticker that fits around the edge of the reception-cranky iPhone 4. They opened a store on Etsy, and now are rushing to keep up with orders. No word on whether Apple gets the joke. [NY Times]

Maryland wants to be a center for the development of Health IT. Governor Martin O'Malley unveiled his plan to make the state a leader by 2012. Among other things, he wants to develop a state-wide health information exchange and create a single set of compliance standards for all healthcare providers. [CivSource]

-- Mark Feffer