Wordpress is the best blogging platform out there, it is an easy php blog to get started with.
The plugin's listed are the most useful I have found and are free.
I can personally recommend the software in this list. I have used each one and have had no problems. The following list is made up of free or open source software.
Need to monitor your adsense earnings then try this little program it has all the funtionality that you need.
It logs all your impressions and CTR and converts your earnings to a currency and at a rate you choose and can handle multiple adsense accounts plus auto update of earnings at various intervals you set.