diff --git a/Demo/classes/bitvec.py b/Demo/classes/bitvec.py
index 2894a56..934d33a 100755
--- a/Demo/classes/bitvec.py
+++ b/Demo/classes/bitvec.py
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@
     def __cmp__(self, other, *rest):
         #rprt('%r.__cmp__%r\n' % (self, (other,) + rest))
         if type(other) != type(self):
-            other = apply(bitvec, (other, ) + rest)
+            other = bitvec(other, *rest)
         #expensive solution... recursive binary, with slicing
         length = self._len
         if length == 0 or other._len == 0:
@@ -237,7 +237,7 @@
         #rprt('%s.__setslice__%r\n' % (self, (i, j, sequence) + rest))
         i, j = _check_slice(self._len, i, j)
         if type(sequence) != type(self):
-            sequence = apply(bitvec, (sequence, ) + rest)
+            sequence = bitvec(sequence, *rest)
         #sequence is now of our own type
         ls_part = self[:i]
         ms_part = self[j:]
@@ -283,7 +283,7 @@
     def __and__(self, otherseq, *rest):
         #rprt('%r.__and__%r\n' % (self, (otherseq,) + rest))
         if type(otherseq) != type(self):
-            otherseq = apply(bitvec, (otherseq, ) + rest)
+            otherseq = bitvec(otherseq, *rest)
         #sequence is now of our own type
         return BitVec(self._data & otherseq._data, \
                   min(self._len, otherseq._len))
@@ -292,7 +292,7 @@
     def __xor__(self, otherseq, *rest):
         #rprt('%r.__xor__%r\n' % (self, (otherseq,) + rest))
         if type(otherseq) != type(self):
-            otherseq = apply(bitvec, (otherseq, ) + rest)
+            otherseq = bitvec(otherseq, *rest)
         #sequence is now of our own type
         return BitVec(self._data ^ otherseq._data, \
                   max(self._len, otherseq._len))
@@ -301,7 +301,7 @@
     def __or__(self, otherseq, *rest):
         #rprt('%r.__or__%r\n' % (self, (otherseq,) + rest))
         if type(otherseq) != type(self):
-            otherseq = apply(bitvec, (otherseq, ) + rest)
+            otherseq = bitvec(otherseq, *rest)
         #sequence is now of our own type
         return BitVec(self._data | otherseq._data, \
                   max(self._len, otherseq._len))
@@ -316,7 +316,7 @@
         #needed for *some* of the arithmetic operations
         #rprt('%r.__coerce__%r\n' % (self, (otherseq,) + rest))
         if type(otherseq) != type(self):
-            otherseq = apply(bitvec, (otherseq, ) + rest)
+            otherseq = bitvec(otherseq, *rest)
         return self, otherseq
 
     def __int__(self):
diff --git a/Demo/metaclasses/Eiffel.py b/Demo/metaclasses/Eiffel.py
index 24fac14..8c39746 100644
--- a/Demo/metaclasses/Eiffel.py
+++ b/Demo/metaclasses/Eiffel.py
@@ -82,10 +82,10 @@
 
     def __call__(self, *args, **kw):
         if self.pre:
-            apply(self.pre, args, kw)
-        Result = apply(self.func, (self.inst,) + args, kw)
+            self.pre(*args, **kw)
+        Result = self.func(self.inst, *args, **kw)
         if self.post:
-            apply(self.post, (Result,) + args, kw)
+            self.post(Result, *args, **kw)
         return Result
 
 class EiffelHelper(MetaHelper):
diff --git a/Demo/metaclasses/Meta.py b/Demo/metaclasses/Meta.py
index 580f582..9529e0f 100644
--- a/Demo/metaclasses/Meta.py
+++ b/Demo/metaclasses/Meta.py
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
         self.__name__ = self.func.__name__
 
     def __call__(self, *args, **kw):
-        return apply(self.func, (self.inst,) + args, kw)
+        return self.func(self.inst, *args, **kw)
 
 class MetaHelper:
 
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@
             init = inst.__getattr__('__init__')
         except AttributeError:
             init = lambda: None
-        apply(init, args, kw)
+        init(*args, **kw)
         return inst
 
 
diff --git a/Demo/metaclasses/Simple.py b/Demo/metaclasses/Simple.py
index 03ed259..e3e54f7 100644
--- a/Demo/metaclasses/Simple.py
+++ b/Demo/metaclasses/Simple.py
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@
         self.instance = instance
     def __call__(self, *args):
         print "calling", self.function, "for", self.instance, "with", args
-        return apply(self.function, (self.instance,) + args)
+        return self.function(self.instance, *args)
 
 Trace = Tracing('Trace', (), {})
 
diff --git a/Demo/metaclasses/Synch.py b/Demo/metaclasses/Synch.py
index 80e52d9..cd13e86 100644
--- a/Demo/metaclasses/Synch.py
+++ b/Demo/metaclasses/Synch.py
@@ -148,10 +148,10 @@
 class LockingMethodWrapper(MetaMethodWrapper):
     def __call__(self, *args, **kw):
         if self.__name__[:1] == '_' and self.__name__[1:] != '_':
-            return apply(self.func, (self.inst,) + args, kw)
+            return self.func(self.inst, *args, **kw)
         self.inst.__lock__.acquire()
         try:
-            return apply(self.func, (self.inst,) + args, kw)
+            return self.func(self.inst, *args, **kw)
         finally:
             self.inst.__lock__.release()
 
diff --git a/Demo/metaclasses/Trace.py b/Demo/metaclasses/Trace.py
index 69b9fab..97fda56 100644
--- a/Demo/metaclasses/Trace.py
+++ b/Demo/metaclasses/Trace.py
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@
             init = inst.__getattr__('__init__')
         except AttributeError:
             init = lambda: None
-        apply(init, args, kw)
+        init(*args, **kw)
         return inst
 
     __trace_output__ = None
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@
         self.func = func
         self.inst = inst
     def __call__(self, *args, **kw):
-        return apply(self.func, (self.inst,) + args, kw)
+        return self.func(self.inst, *args, **kw)
 
 class TracingWrapper(NotTracingWrapper):
     def __call__(self, *args, **kw):
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@
                                  "calling %s, inst=%s, args=%s, kw=%s",
                                  self.__name__, self.inst, args, kw)
         try:
-            rv = apply(self.func, (self.inst,) + args, kw)
+            rv = self.func(self.inst, *args, **kw)
         except:
             t, v, tb = sys.exc_info()
             self.inst.__trace_call__(self.inst.__trace_output__,
diff --git a/Demo/pdist/RCSProxy.py b/Demo/pdist/RCSProxy.py
index 87c65cc..ff3f0ce 100755
--- a/Demo/pdist/RCSProxy.py
+++ b/Demo/pdist/RCSProxy.py
@@ -186,7 +186,7 @@
     if hasattr(proxy, what):
         attr = getattr(proxy, what)
         if callable(attr):
-            print apply(attr, tuple(sys.argv[2:]))
+            print attr(*sys.argv[2:])
         else:
             print repr(attr)
     else:
diff --git a/Demo/pdist/client.py b/Demo/pdist/client.py
index 3e97d84..664c41b 100755
--- a/Demo/pdist/client.py
+++ b/Demo/pdist/client.py
@@ -132,12 +132,11 @@
 class SecureClient(Client, Security):
 
     def __init__(self, *args):
-        import string
-        apply(self._pre_init, args)
+        self._pre_init(*args)
         Security.__init__(self)
         self._wf.flush()
         line = self._rf.readline()
-        challenge = string.atoi(string.strip(line))
+        challenge = int(line.strip())
         response = self._encode_challenge(challenge)
         line = repr(long(response))
         if line[-1] in 'Ll': line = line[:-1]
diff --git a/Demo/pdist/server.py b/Demo/pdist/server.py
index 01b3249..79afa8b 100755
--- a/Demo/pdist/server.py
+++ b/Demo/pdist/server.py
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@
                 raise NameError, "illegal method name %s" % repr(methodname)
             else:
                 method = getattr(self, methodname)
-                reply = (None, apply(method, args), id)
+                reply = (None, method(*args), id)
         except:
             reply = (sys.exc_info()[:2], id)
         if id < 0 and reply[:2] == (None, None):
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@
 class SecureServer(Server, Security):
 
     def __init__(self, *args):
-        apply(Server.__init__, (self,) + args)
+        Server.__init__(self, *args)
         Security.__init__(self)
 
     def _verify(self, conn, address):
diff --git a/Demo/threads/Coroutine.py b/Demo/threads/Coroutine.py
index 4cc65f7..10fa303 100644
--- a/Demo/threads/Coroutine.py
+++ b/Demo/threads/Coroutine.py
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@
         if not self.killed:
             try:
                 try:
-                    apply(me.f, args)
+                    me.f(*args)
                 except Killed:
                     pass
             finally:
diff --git a/Demo/threads/Generator.py b/Demo/threads/Generator.py
index a2713af..63bed9b 100644
--- a/Demo/threads/Generator.py
+++ b/Demo/threads/Generator.py
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@
             self.putlock.acquire()
             if not self.killed:
                 try:
-                    apply(self.func, (self,) + self.args)
+                    self.func(self, *self.args)
                 except Killed:
                     pass
         finally:
diff --git a/Demo/threads/find.py b/Demo/threads/find.py
index 7d5edc1..14148b8 100644
--- a/Demo/threads/find.py
+++ b/Demo/threads/find.py
@@ -17,7 +17,6 @@
 
 import sys
 import getopt
-import string
 import time
 import os
 from stat import *
@@ -85,7 +84,7 @@
             if not job:
                 break
             func, args = job
-            apply(func, args)
+            func(*args)
             self._donework()
 
     def run(self, nworkers):
@@ -104,7 +103,7 @@
     opts, args = getopt.getopt(sys.argv[1:], '-w:')
     for opt, arg in opts:
         if opt == '-w':
-            nworkers = string.atoi(arg)
+            nworkers = int(arg)
     if not args:
         args = [os.curdir]
 
diff --git a/Demo/tix/tixwidgets.py b/Demo/tix/tixwidgets.py
index de2e22e..bf7102a 100644
--- a/Demo/tix/tixwidgets.py
+++ b/Demo/tix/tixwidgets.py
@@ -71,8 +71,7 @@
         hm.add_checkbutton(label='BalloonHelp', underline=0, command=ToggleHelp,
                            variable=self.useBalloons)
         # The trace variable option doesn't seem to work, instead I use 'command'
-        #apply(w.tk.call, ('trace', 'variable', self.useBalloons, 'w',
-        #                     ToggleHelp))
+        #w.tk.call('trace', 'variable', self.useBalloons, 'w', ToggleHelp))
 
         return w
 
diff --git a/Demo/tkinter/guido/AttrDialog.py b/Demo/tkinter/guido/AttrDialog.py
index 86333ad..9fa699e 100755
--- a/Demo/tkinter/guido/AttrDialog.py
+++ b/Demo/tkinter/guido/AttrDialog.py
@@ -155,8 +155,7 @@
         def set(self, e=None):
             self.current = self.var.get()
             try:
-                apply(self.dialog.widget.pack, (),
-                      {self.option: self.current})
+                self.dialog.widget.pack(**{self.option: self.current})
             except TclError, msg:
                 print msg
                 self.refresh()
diff --git a/Demo/tkinter/guido/ManPage.py b/Demo/tkinter/guido/ManPage.py
index 7d6fe00..911961e 100755
--- a/Demo/tkinter/guido/ManPage.py
+++ b/Demo/tkinter/guido/ManPage.py
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@
     # Initialize instance
     def __init__(self, master=None, **cnf):
         # Initialize base class
-        apply(ScrolledText.__init__, (self, master), cnf)
+        ScrolledText.__init__(self, master, **cnf)
 
         # Define tags for formatting styles
         self.tag_config('X', underline=1)
@@ -178,7 +178,7 @@
     # Initialize instance
     def __init__(self, master=None, **cnf):
         cnf['state'] = DISABLED
-        apply(EditableManPage.__init__, (self, master), cnf)
+        EditableManPage.__init__(self, master, **cnf)
 
 # Alias
 ManPage = ReadonlyManPage
diff --git a/Demo/tkinter/guido/ShellWindow.py b/Demo/tkinter/guido/ShellWindow.py
index 609101b..6cdce0b 100755
--- a/Demo/tkinter/guido/ShellWindow.py
+++ b/Demo/tkinter/guido/ShellWindow.py
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
         args = string.split(shell)
         shell = args[0]
 
-        apply(ScrolledText.__init__, (self, master), cnf)
+        ScrolledText.__init__(self, master, **cnf)
         self.pos = '1.0'
         self.bind('<Return>', self.inputhandler)
         self.bind('<Control-c>', self.sigint)
diff --git a/Demo/tkinter/guido/kill.py b/Demo/tkinter/guido/kill.py
index e7df261..dd0dbf4 100755
--- a/Demo/tkinter/guido/kill.py
+++ b/Demo/tkinter/guido/kill.py
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 
 class BarButton(Menubutton):
     def __init__(self, master=None, **cnf):
-        apply(Menubutton.__init__, (self, master), cnf)
+        Menubutton.__init__(self, master, **cnf)
         self.pack(side=LEFT)
         self.menu = Menu(self, name='menu')
         self['menu'] = self.menu
diff --git a/Demo/tkinter/guido/optionmenu.py b/Demo/tkinter/guido/optionmenu.py
index be9d3ac..7365fa6 100644
--- a/Demo/tkinter/guido/optionmenu.py
+++ b/Demo/tkinter/guido/optionmenu.py
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@
 var2  = StringVar()
 var2.set(CHOICES[0])
 
-menu2 = apply(OptionMenu, (root, var2) + tuple(CHOICES))
+menu2 = OptionMenu(root, var2, *CHOICES)
 menu2.pack()
 
 root.mainloop()
diff --git a/Demo/tkinter/guido/sortvisu.py b/Demo/tkinter/guido/sortvisu.py
index f18f2c1..3e4454f 100644
--- a/Demo/tkinter/guido/sortvisu.py
+++ b/Demo/tkinter/guido/sortvisu.py
@@ -523,8 +523,7 @@
         if self.size not in sizes:
             sizes.append(self.size)
             sizes.sort()
-        self.m_size = apply(OptionMenu,
-                            (self.botleftframe, self.v_size) + tuple(sizes))
+        self.m_size = OptionMenu(self.botleftframe, self.v_size, *sizes)
         self.m_size.pack(fill=X)
 
         self.v_speed = StringVar(self.master)
diff --git a/Demo/tkinter/guido/svkill.py b/Demo/tkinter/guido/svkill.py
index 69f7f3b..95f61b8 100755
--- a/Demo/tkinter/guido/svkill.py
+++ b/Demo/tkinter/guido/svkill.py
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
 
 class BarButton(Menubutton):
     def __init__(self, master=None, **cnf):
-        apply(Menubutton.__init__, (self, master), cnf)
+        Menubutton.__init__(self, master, **cnf)
         self.pack(side=LEFT)
         self.menu = Menu(self, name='menu')
         self['menu'] = self.menu
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@
     def do_1(self, e):
         self.kill(e.widget.get(e.widget.nearest(e.y)))
     def __init__(self, master=None, **cnf):
-        apply(Frame.__init__, (self, master), cnf)
+        Frame.__init__(self, master, **cnf)
         self.pack(expand=1, fill=BOTH)
         self.bar = Frame(self, name='bar', relief=RAISED,
                          borderwidth=2)
diff --git a/Demo/tkinter/matt/window-creation-w-location.py b/Demo/tkinter/matt/window-creation-w-location.py
index 3f2b5b0..9f23bac 100644
--- a/Demo/tkinter/matt/window-creation-w-location.py
+++ b/Demo/tkinter/matt/window-creation-w-location.py
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
             kwargs["text"] = "QUIT"
         if not kwargs.has_key("command"):
             kwargs["command"] = master.quit
-        apply(Button.__init__, (self, master) + args, kwargs)
+        Button.__init__(self, master, *args, **kwargs)
 
 class Test(Frame):
     def makeWindow(self, *args):