Editing how tos in photoshop.

Well I just recently got photoshop and my very own camera (nothing fancy, just a Kodak easy share). I've been playing with my camera, and there's a few things that I just cant do with it. Like get that lovely blurry backgroud that I'd like or take low light photos. I was wondering if I could simulate those effects in photoshop, like doing a graduation blur on a specific part of the picture or darken the background only.

Any links to tutorials would be wonderful, even if it's not what I'm asking for above since I'm just starting and know virtually nothing about taking photos

thanks!!