Need advice/link on website hosting

[underpants]

I guess that is what you call it.

My wife wants to start an informative, resource clearing house (I guess you would call it) website.

What are the costs?
How is it hosted? Do you rent server space or how does that work?

Please realize that this is clearly from a clueless foundation.

Any good links to information?

Is a "blog" as useful? Is it taking as seriously as a .net or .com?

Just pointing me in the right general direction would help a lot.

Thanks in advance.