Customizing blog functionality – nubie – please help

Hi, I just got started with WordPress today. My PHP is limited but I do come from a scripting background and have used it in the past. I want to make it so that anyone can start a blog, I think I need a registration page so I don’t have to add the users? I also need to edit the start blog page with custom fields. Please help me out if someone already has this solution.

If you need any more info, please let me know and I will reply.

Thank you
Val