Can someone update me?-haven't been near the thread in ages. I'm on the original stakeholder list. Do I need to do something? Have coins been issued? Is there a client?
Nope, not yet. Alpha client soon.
how soon?
People please just read the Threads a little bit more

Within' the next few days at least few weeks, you will see the first alpha

I'm very exited for this

Edit:
BTW.: you can check out the progress, by looking @ the first page here.
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=426303.0