Some article describing the different blogging engines. (as long as you consider WordPress a blogging engine).
WordPress
http://www.binarymoon.co.uk/projects/bm-custom-login/
http://www.wprecipes.com/how-to-disable-the-please-update-now-message-in-wp-dashboard
http://codex.wordpress.org/Administration_Over_SSL
http://www.problogdesign.com/wordpress/custom-wordpress-login-screen/
http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/bm-custom-login/
http://weblogtoolscollection.com/archives/2007/12/28/9-wordpress-admin-themes/
Safely modify your WordPress admin’s CSS and make it futureproof
Getting started with wordpress
http://lifehacker.com/5365600/the-beginners-guide-to-tricking-out-your-wordpress-blog