  Three important QCD-related aspects of the $\tau$ and $\mu$ dynamics are
reviewed: the determination of the strong coupling from the hadronic tau decay
width, leading to the updated value $\alpha_s(m_\tau^2) = 0.331 \pm 0.013$; the
measurement of $|V_{us}|$ through the Cabibbo-suppressed decays of the $\tau$,
and the Standard Model prediction for the muon anomalous magnetic moment.
