I recommend a reputable brand right from the get-go so you can take pictures with it for years to come. Brands like Cannon, Nikon and Sony may be a bit more expensive than your typical no-name brands but it's well worth it, if only for the difference it will make in your final products. Most cameras come with about 10 megapixel now which is more than enough for a beginner camera. Be on the lookout for one that has a high optical zoom vs digital zoom. You'll get a much clearer, less pixelatred picture. Also, you may want to consider getting a larger flash card so you don't have to dump your pictures all the time. I have a 16 gb flash card and my camera has always said "999 pictures remaining" since I got it =)
For the photography itself the best advice I can give you is to just get out there and start taking pictures. Bring your camera along with you everywhere you go. When you're looking at the world through a lense you often see things, beautiful thing, that you may not have normally noticed.
Start looking at the world of art in a different, more tangible way and I'm sure you will soon be on your way to capturing some of life's finest moments.
Good luck!
