Well, the berkeley job center was about what I expected, but there was one (and only one) job that really seemed suitable, and it seemed pretty perfect. It’s a contract web programming job thingie, php and mysql. It’s worth a shot.
And the search for consulting firms at the berkeley public library turned up about 50 companies to research (some in software development, others in computing services, and a few head hunter type companies). Didn’t check sf. Certainly didn’t check chicago (not sure they even have books for there here).