These most-def need to be checked (regularly) becasue at best they cause a noisy flexing of the chainring, at worst they can brake your bike and possibly your body if the chain ring snaps or comes off the crank arms. You just need an allen wrench (I'm too lazy to go see what size but ony one size will fit) to tighten them.

Not without getting a new fork.
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/gloss_ha-i.html#headset


You can get a shorter threadless stem if you are just trying to bring the bars in closer to you.