diff --git a/Lib/bsddb/dbobj.py b/Lib/bsddb/dbobj.py
index 5bcf84b..4a75dd2 100644
--- a/Lib/bsddb/dbobj.py
+++ b/Lib/bsddb/dbobj.py
@@ -31,82 +31,82 @@
 
 class DBEnv:
     def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        self._cobj = apply(db.DBEnv, args, kwargs)
+        self._cobj = db.DBEnv(*args, **kwargs)
 
     def close(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        return apply(self._cobj.close, args, kwargs)
+        return self._cobj.close(*args, **kwargs)
     def open(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        return apply(self._cobj.open, args, kwargs)
+        return self._cobj.open(*args, **kwargs)
     def remove(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        return apply(self._cobj.remove, args, kwargs)
+        return self._cobj.remove(*args, **kwargs)
     def set_shm_key(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        return apply(self._cobj.set_shm_key, args, kwargs)
+        return self._cobj.set_shm_key(*args, **kwargs)
     def set_cachesize(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        return apply(self._cobj.set_cachesize, args, kwargs)
+        return self._cobj.set_cachesize(*args, **kwargs)
     def set_data_dir(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        return apply(self._cobj.set_data_dir, args, kwargs)
+        return self._cobj.set_data_dir(*args, **kwargs)
     def set_flags(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        return apply(self._cobj.set_flags, args, kwargs)
+        return self._cobj.set_flags(*args, **kwargs)
     def set_lg_bsize(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        return apply(self._cobj.set_lg_bsize, args, kwargs)
+        return self._cobj.set_lg_bsize(*args, **kwargs)
     def set_lg_dir(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        return apply(self._cobj.set_lg_dir, args, kwargs)
+        return self._cobj.set_lg_dir(*args, **kwargs)
     def set_lg_max(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        return apply(self._cobj.set_lg_max, args, kwargs)
+        return self._cobj.set_lg_max(*args, **kwargs)
     def set_lk_detect(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        return apply(self._cobj.set_lk_detect, args, kwargs)
+        return self._cobj.set_lk_detect(*args, **kwargs)
     def set_lk_max(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        return apply(self._cobj.set_lk_max, args, kwargs)
+        return self._cobj.set_lk_max(*args, **kwargs)
     def set_lk_max_locks(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        return apply(self._cobj.set_lk_max_locks, args, kwargs)
+        return self._cobj.set_lk_max_locks(*args, **kwargs)
     def set_lk_max_lockers(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        return apply(self._cobj.set_lk_max_lockers, args, kwargs)
+        return self._cobj.set_lk_max_lockers(*args, **kwargs)
     def set_lk_max_objects(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        return apply(self._cobj.set_lk_max_objects, args, kwargs)
+        return self._cobj.set_lk_max_objects(*args, **kwargs)
     def set_mp_mmapsize(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        return apply(self._cobj.set_mp_mmapsize, args, kwargs)
+        return self._cobj.set_mp_mmapsize(*args, **kwargs)
     def set_timeout(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        return apply(self._cobj.set_timeout, args, kwargs)
+        return self._cobj.set_timeout(*args, **kwargs)
     def set_tmp_dir(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        return apply(self._cobj.set_tmp_dir, args, kwargs)
+        return self._cobj.set_tmp_dir(*args, **kwargs)
     def txn_begin(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        return apply(self._cobj.txn_begin, args, kwargs)
+        return self._cobj.txn_begin(*args, **kwargs)
     def txn_checkpoint(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        return apply(self._cobj.txn_checkpoint, args, kwargs)
+        return self._cobj.txn_checkpoint(*args, **kwargs)
     def txn_stat(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        return apply(self._cobj.txn_stat, args, kwargs)
+        return self._cobj.txn_stat(*args, **kwargs)
     def set_tx_max(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        return apply(self._cobj.set_tx_max, args, kwargs)
+        return self._cobj.set_tx_max(*args, **kwargs)
     def set_tx_timestamp(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        return apply(self._cobj.set_tx_timestamp, args, kwargs)
+        return self._cobj.set_tx_timestamp(*args, **kwargs)
     def lock_detect(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        return apply(self._cobj.lock_detect, args, kwargs)
+        return self._cobj.lock_detect(*args, **kwargs)
     def lock_get(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        return apply(self._cobj.lock_get, args, kwargs)
+        return self._cobj.lock_get(*args, **kwargs)
     def lock_id(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        return apply(self._cobj.lock_id, args, kwargs)
+        return self._cobj.lock_id(*args, **kwargs)
     def lock_put(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        return apply(self._cobj.lock_put, args, kwargs)
+        return self._cobj.lock_put(*args, **kwargs)
     def lock_stat(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        return apply(self._cobj.lock_stat, args, kwargs)
+        return self._cobj.lock_stat(*args, **kwargs)
     def log_archive(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        return apply(self._cobj.log_archive, args, kwargs)
+        return self._cobj.log_archive(*args, **kwargs)
     def set_get_returns_none(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        return apply(self._cobj.set_get_returns_none, args, kwargs)
+        return self._cobj.set_get_returns_none(*args, **kwargs)
 
     if db.version() >= (4,1):
         def dbremove(self, *args, **kwargs):
-            return apply(self._cobj.dbremove, args, kwargs)
+            return self._cobj.dbremove(*args, **kwargs)
         def dbrename(self, *args, **kwargs):
-            return apply(self._cobj.dbrename, args, kwargs)
+            return self._cobj.dbrename(*args, **kwargs)
         def set_encrypt(self, *args, **kwargs):
-            return apply(self._cobj.set_encrypt, args, kwargs)
+            return self._cobj.set_encrypt(*args, **kwargs)
 
 
 class DB(DictMixin):
     def __init__(self, dbenv, *args, **kwargs):
         # give it the proper DBEnv C object that its expecting
-        self._cobj = apply(db.DB, (dbenv._cobj,) + args, kwargs)
+        self._cobj = db.DB(dbenv._cobj, *args, **kwargs)
 
     # TODO are there other dict methods that need to be overridden?
     def __len__(self):
@@ -119,92 +119,92 @@
         del self._cobj[arg]
 
     def append(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        return apply(self._cobj.append, args, kwargs)
+        return self._cobj.append(*args, **kwargs)
     def associate(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        return apply(self._cobj.associate, args, kwargs)
+        return self._cobj.associate(*args, **kwargs)
     def close(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        return apply(self._cobj.close, args, kwargs)
+        return self._cobj.close(*args, **kwargs)
     def consume(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        return apply(self._cobj.consume, args, kwargs)
+        return self._cobj.consume(*args, **kwargs)
     def consume_wait(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        return apply(self._cobj.consume_wait, args, kwargs)
+        return self._cobj.consume_wait(*args, **kwargs)
     def cursor(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        return apply(self._cobj.cursor, args, kwargs)
+        return self._cobj.cursor(*args, **kwargs)
     def delete(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        return apply(self._cobj.delete, args, kwargs)
+        return self._cobj.delete(*args, **kwargs)
     def fd(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        return apply(self._cobj.fd, args, kwargs)
+        return self._cobj.fd(*args, **kwargs)
     def get(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        return apply(self._cobj.get, args, kwargs)
+        return self._cobj.get(*args, **kwargs)
     def pget(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        return apply(self._cobj.pget, args, kwargs)
+        return self._cobj.pget(*args, **kwargs)
     def get_both(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        return apply(self._cobj.get_both, args, kwargs)
+        return self._cobj.get_both(*args, **kwargs)
     def get_byteswapped(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        return apply(self._cobj.get_byteswapped, args, kwargs)
+        return self._cobj.get_byteswapped(*args, **kwargs)
     def get_size(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        return apply(self._cobj.get_size, args, kwargs)
+        return self._cobj.get_size(*args, **kwargs)
     def get_type(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        return apply(self._cobj.get_type, args, kwargs)
+        return self._cobj.get_type(*args, **kwargs)
     def join(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        return apply(self._cobj.join, args, kwargs)
+        return self._cobj.join(*args, **kwargs)
     def key_range(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        return apply(self._cobj.key_range, args, kwargs)
+        return self._cobj.key_range(*args, **kwargs)
     def has_key(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        return apply(self._cobj.has_key, args, kwargs)
+        return self._cobj.has_key(*args, **kwargs)
     def items(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        return apply(self._cobj.items, args, kwargs)
+        return self._cobj.items(*args, **kwargs)
     def keys(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        return apply(self._cobj.keys, args, kwargs)
+        return self._cobj.keys(*args, **kwargs)
     def open(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        return apply(self._cobj.open, args, kwargs)
+        return self._cobj.open(*args, **kwargs)
     def put(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        return apply(self._cobj.put, args, kwargs)
+        return self._cobj.put(*args, **kwargs)
     def remove(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        return apply(self._cobj.remove, args, kwargs)
+        return self._cobj.remove(*args, **kwargs)
     def rename(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        return apply(self._cobj.rename, args, kwargs)
+        return self._cobj.rename(*args, **kwargs)
     def set_bt_minkey(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        return apply(self._cobj.set_bt_minkey, args, kwargs)
+        return self._cobj.set_bt_minkey(*args, **kwargs)
     def set_bt_compare(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        return apply(self._cobj.set_bt_compare, args, kwargs)
+        return self._cobj.set_bt_compare(*args, **kwargs)
     def set_cachesize(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        return apply(self._cobj.set_cachesize, args, kwargs)
+        return self._cobj.set_cachesize(*args, **kwargs)
     def set_flags(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        return apply(self._cobj.set_flags, args, kwargs)
+        return self._cobj.set_flags(*args, **kwargs)
     def set_h_ffactor(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        return apply(self._cobj.set_h_ffactor, args, kwargs)
+        return self._cobj.set_h_ffactor(*args, **kwargs)
     def set_h_nelem(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        return apply(self._cobj.set_h_nelem, args, kwargs)
+        return self._cobj.set_h_nelem(*args, **kwargs)
     def set_lorder(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        return apply(self._cobj.set_lorder, args, kwargs)
+        return self._cobj.set_lorder(*args, **kwargs)
     def set_pagesize(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        return apply(self._cobj.set_pagesize, args, kwargs)
+        return self._cobj.set_pagesize(*args, **kwargs)
     def set_re_delim(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        return apply(self._cobj.set_re_delim, args, kwargs)
+        return self._cobj.set_re_delim(*args, **kwargs)
     def set_re_len(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        return apply(self._cobj.set_re_len, args, kwargs)
+        return self._cobj.set_re_len(*args, **kwargs)
     def set_re_pad(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        return apply(self._cobj.set_re_pad, args, kwargs)
+        return self._cobj.set_re_pad(*args, **kwargs)
     def set_re_source(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        return apply(self._cobj.set_re_source, args, kwargs)
+        return self._cobj.set_re_source(*args, **kwargs)
     def set_q_extentsize(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        return apply(self._cobj.set_q_extentsize, args, kwargs)
+        return self._cobj.set_q_extentsize(*args, **kwargs)
     def stat(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        return apply(self._cobj.stat, args, kwargs)
+        return self._cobj.stat(*args, **kwargs)
     def sync(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        return apply(self._cobj.sync, args, kwargs)
+        return self._cobj.sync(*args, **kwargs)
     def type(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        return apply(self._cobj.type, args, kwargs)
+        return self._cobj.type(*args, **kwargs)
     def upgrade(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        return apply(self._cobj.upgrade, args, kwargs)
+        return self._cobj.upgrade(*args, **kwargs)
     def values(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        return apply(self._cobj.values, args, kwargs)
+        return self._cobj.values(*args, **kwargs)
     def verify(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        return apply(self._cobj.verify, args, kwargs)
+        return self._cobj.verify(*args, **kwargs)
     def set_get_returns_none(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        return apply(self._cobj.set_get_returns_none, args, kwargs)
+        return self._cobj.set_get_returns_none(*args, **kwargs)
 
     if db.version() >= (4,1):
         def set_encrypt(self, *args, **kwargs):
-            return apply(self._cobj.set_encrypt, args, kwargs)
+            return self._cobj.set_encrypt(*args, **kwargs)
diff --git a/Lib/bsddb/dbshelve.py b/Lib/bsddb/dbshelve.py
index d341ab7..5cd4a53 100644
--- a/Lib/bsddb/dbshelve.py
+++ b/Lib/bsddb/dbshelve.py
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@
         # given nothing is passed to the extension module.  That way
         # an exception can be raised if set_get_returns_none is turned
         # off.
-        data = apply(self.db.get, args, kw)
+        data = self.db.get(*args, **kw)
         try:
             return cPickle.loads(data)
         except (TypeError, cPickle.UnpicklingError):
@@ -236,7 +236,7 @@
     def get(self, *args):
         count = len(args)  # a method overloading hack
         method = getattr(self, 'get_%d' % count)
-        apply(method, args)
+        method(*args)
 
     def get_1(self, flags):
         rec = self.dbc.get(flags)
diff --git a/Lib/bsddb/test/test_basics.py b/Lib/bsddb/test/test_basics.py
index 24c4038..7e8f835 100644
--- a/Lib/bsddb/test/test_basics.py
+++ b/Lib/bsddb/test/test_basics.py
@@ -444,7 +444,7 @@
                     print "attempting to use a closed cursor's %s method" % \
                           method
                 # a bug may cause a NULL pointer dereference...
-                apply(getattr(c, method), args)
+                getattr(c, method)(*args)
             except db.DBError, val:
                 assert val[0] == 0
                 if verbose: print val
diff --git a/Lib/bsddb/test/test_dbobj.py b/Lib/bsddb/test/test_dbobj.py
index 6799fc9..1305883 100644
--- a/Lib/bsddb/test/test_dbobj.py
+++ b/Lib/bsddb/test/test_dbobj.py
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@
             def put(self, key, *args, **kwargs):
                 key = string.upper(key)
                 # call our parent classes put method with an upper case key
-                return apply(dbobj.DB.put, (self, key) + args, kwargs)
+                return dbobj.DB.put(self, key, *args, **kwargs)
         self.env = TestDBEnv()
         self.env.open(self.homeDir, db.DB_CREATE | db.DB_INIT_MPOOL)
         self.db = TestDB(self.env)
diff --git a/Lib/bsddb/test/test_join.py b/Lib/bsddb/test/test_join.py
index 73edd11..69a1e9d 100644
--- a/Lib/bsddb/test/test_join.py
+++ b/Lib/bsddb/test/test_join.py
@@ -72,13 +72,13 @@
         # create and populate primary index
         priDB = db.DB(self.env)
         priDB.open(self.filename, "primary", db.DB_BTREE, db.DB_CREATE)
-        map(lambda t, priDB=priDB: apply(priDB.put, t), ProductIndex)
+        map(lambda t, priDB=priDB: priDB.put(*t), ProductIndex)
 
         # create and populate secondary index
         secDB = db.DB(self.env)
         secDB.set_flags(db.DB_DUP | db.DB_DUPSORT)
         secDB.open(self.filename, "secondary", db.DB_BTREE, db.DB_CREATE)
-        map(lambda t, secDB=secDB: apply(secDB.put, t), ColorIndex)
+        map(lambda t, secDB=secDB: secDB.put(*t), ColorIndex)
 
         sCursor = None
         jCursor = None
diff --git a/Lib/compiler/transformer.py b/Lib/compiler/transformer.py
index cc91b4f..504e283 100644
--- a/Lib/compiler/transformer.py
+++ b/Lib/compiler/transformer.py
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@
             raise
     else:
         raise WalkerError, "Can't find appropriate Node type: %s" % str(args)
-        #return apply(ast.Node, args)
+        #return ast.Node(*args)
 
 class Transformer:
     """Utility object for transforming Python parse trees.
diff --git a/Lib/distutils/archive_util.py b/Lib/distutils/archive_util.py
index 6aa5e63..b725a14 100644
--- a/Lib/distutils/archive_util.py
+++ b/Lib/distutils/archive_util.py
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@
     func = format_info[0]
     for (arg,val) in format_info[1]:
         kwargs[arg] = val
-    filename = apply(func, (base_name, base_dir), kwargs)
+    filename = func(base_name, base_dir, **kwargs)
 
     if root_dir is not None:
         log.debug("changing back to '%s'", save_cwd)
diff --git a/Lib/distutils/command/build_ext.py b/Lib/distutils/command/build_ext.py
index 4191c76..6ea5d57 100644
--- a/Lib/distutils/command/build_ext.py
+++ b/Lib/distutils/command/build_ext.py
@@ -613,8 +613,8 @@
         # extensions in debug_mode are named 'module_d.pyd' under windows
         so_ext = get_config_var('SO')
         if os.name == 'nt' and self.debug:
-            return apply(os.path.join, ext_path) + '_d' + so_ext
-        return apply(os.path.join, ext_path) + so_ext
+            return os.path.join(*ext_path) + '_d' + so_ext
+        return os.path.join(*ext_path) + so_ext
 
     def get_export_symbols (self, ext):
         """Return the list of symbols that a shared extension has to
diff --git a/Lib/distutils/command/build_py.py b/Lib/distutils/command/build_py.py
index 621bcb4..3b7ec62 100644
--- a/Lib/distutils/command/build_py.py
+++ b/Lib/distutils/command/build_py.py
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@
 
         if not self.package_dir:
             if path:
-                return apply(os.path.join, path)
+                return os.path.join(*path)
             else:
                 return ''
         else:
@@ -167,7 +167,7 @@
                     del path[-1]
                 else:
                     tail.insert(0, pdir)
-                    return apply(os.path.join, tail)
+                    return os.path.join(*tail)
             else:
                 # Oops, got all the way through 'path' without finding a
                 # match in package_dir.  If package_dir defines a directory
@@ -181,7 +181,7 @@
                     tail.insert(0, pdir)
 
                 if tail:
-                    return apply(os.path.join, tail)
+                    return os.path.join(*tail)
                 else:
                     return ''
 
@@ -335,7 +335,7 @@
 
     def get_module_outfile (self, build_dir, package, module):
         outfile_path = [build_dir] + list(package) + [module + ".py"]
-        return apply(os.path.join, outfile_path)
+        return os.path.join(*outfile_path)
 
 
     def get_outputs (self, include_bytecode=1):
diff --git a/Lib/distutils/dir_util.py b/Lib/distutils/dir_util.py
index 43994db..a4aff58 100644
--- a/Lib/distutils/dir_util.py
+++ b/Lib/distutils/dir_util.py
@@ -204,7 +204,7 @@
     _build_cmdtuple(directory, cmdtuples)
     for cmd in cmdtuples:
         try:
-            apply(cmd[0], (cmd[1],))
+            cmd[0](cmd[1])
             # remove dir from cache if it's already there
             abspath = os.path.abspath(cmd[1])
             if _path_created.has_key(abspath):
diff --git a/Lib/distutils/filelist.py b/Lib/distutils/filelist.py
index 43f9aaa..4bbdd1f 100644
--- a/Lib/distutils/filelist.py
+++ b/Lib/distutils/filelist.py
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@
         sortable_files.sort()
         self.files = []
         for sort_tuple in sortable_files:
-            self.files.append(apply(os.path.join, sort_tuple))
+            self.files.append(os.path.join(*sort_tuple))
 
 
     # -- Other miscellaneous utility methods ---------------------------
diff --git a/Lib/distutils/util.py b/Lib/distutils/util.py
index 387e9bd..889bf13 100644
--- a/Lib/distutils/util.py
+++ b/Lib/distutils/util.py
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@
         paths.remove('.')
     if not paths:
         return os.curdir
-    return apply(os.path.join, paths)
+    return os.path.join(*paths)
 
 # convert_path ()
 
@@ -295,7 +295,7 @@
 
     log.info(msg)
     if not dry_run:
-        apply(func, args)
+        func(*args)
 
 
 def strtobool (val):
diff --git a/Lib/idlelib/MultiCall.py b/Lib/idlelib/MultiCall.py
index ea8b140..4f53115 100644
--- a/Lib/idlelib/MultiCall.py
+++ b/Lib/idlelib/MultiCall.py
@@ -296,7 +296,7 @@
         assert issubclass(widget, Tkinter.Misc)
 
         def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
-            apply(widget.__init__, (self,)+args, kwargs)
+            widget.__init__(self, *args, **kwargs)
             # a dictionary which maps a virtual event to a tuple with:
             #  0. the function binded
             #  1. a list of triplets - the sequences it is binded to
diff --git a/Lib/logging/__init__.py b/Lib/logging/__init__.py
index d82d667..862f7ca 100644
--- a/Lib/logging/__init__.py
+++ b/Lib/logging/__init__.py
@@ -965,7 +965,7 @@
         if self.manager.disable >= DEBUG:
             return
         if DEBUG >= self.getEffectiveLevel():
-            apply(self._log, (DEBUG, msg, args), kwargs)
+            self._log(DEBUG, msg, args, **kwargs)
 
     def info(self, msg, *args, **kwargs):
         """
@@ -979,7 +979,7 @@
         if self.manager.disable >= INFO:
             return
         if INFO >= self.getEffectiveLevel():
-            apply(self._log, (INFO, msg, args), kwargs)
+            self._log(INFO, msg, args, **kwargs)
 
     def warning(self, msg, *args, **kwargs):
         """
@@ -993,7 +993,7 @@
         if self.manager.disable >= WARNING:
             return
         if self.isEnabledFor(WARNING):
-            apply(self._log, (WARNING, msg, args), kwargs)
+            self._log(WARNING, msg, args, **kwargs)
 
     warn = warning
 
@@ -1009,13 +1009,13 @@
         if self.manager.disable >= ERROR:
             return
         if self.isEnabledFor(ERROR):
-            apply(self._log, (ERROR, msg, args), kwargs)
+            self._log(ERROR, msg, args, **kwargs)
 
     def exception(self, msg, *args):
         """
         Convenience method for logging an ERROR with exception information.
         """
-        apply(self.error, (msg,) + args, {'exc_info': 1})
+        self.error(msg, *args, exc_info=1)
 
     def critical(self, msg, *args, **kwargs):
         """
@@ -1029,7 +1029,7 @@
         if self.manager.disable >= CRITICAL:
             return
         if CRITICAL >= self.getEffectiveLevel():
-            apply(self._log, (CRITICAL, msg, args), kwargs)
+            self._log(CRITICAL, msg, args, **kwargs)
 
     fatal = critical
 
@@ -1050,7 +1050,7 @@
         if self.manager.disable >= level:
             return
         if self.isEnabledFor(level):
-            apply(self._log, (level, msg, args), kwargs)
+            self._log(level, msg, args, **kwargs)
 
     def findCaller(self):
         """
@@ -1275,7 +1275,7 @@
     """
     if len(root.handlers) == 0:
         basicConfig()
-    apply(root.critical, (msg,)+args, kwargs)
+    root.critical(msg, *args, **kwargs)
 
 fatal = critical
 
@@ -1285,14 +1285,14 @@
     """
     if len(root.handlers) == 0:
         basicConfig()
-    apply(root.error, (msg,)+args, kwargs)
+    root.error(msg, *args, **kwargs)
 
 def exception(msg, *args):
     """
     Log a message with severity 'ERROR' on the root logger,
     with exception information.
     """
-    apply(error, (msg,)+args, {'exc_info': 1})
+    error(msg, *args, exc_info=1)
 
 def warning(msg, *args, **kwargs):
     """
@@ -1300,7 +1300,7 @@
     """
     if len(root.handlers) == 0:
         basicConfig()
-    apply(root.warning, (msg,)+args, kwargs)
+    root.warning(msg, *args, **kwargs)
 
 warn = warning
 
@@ -1310,7 +1310,7 @@
     """
     if len(root.handlers) == 0:
         basicConfig()
-    apply(root.info, (msg,)+args, kwargs)
+    root.info(msg, *args, **kwargs)
 
 def debug(msg, *args, **kwargs):
     """
@@ -1318,7 +1318,7 @@
     """
     if len(root.handlers) == 0:
         basicConfig()
-    apply(root.debug, (msg,)+args, kwargs)
+    root.debug(msg, *args, **kwargs)
 
 def log(level, msg, *args, **kwargs):
     """
@@ -1326,7 +1326,7 @@
     """
     if len(root.handlers) == 0:
         basicConfig()
-    apply(root.log, (level, msg)+args, kwargs)
+    root.log(level, msg, *args, **kwargs)
 
 def disable(level):
     """
diff --git a/Lib/logging/config.py b/Lib/logging/config.py
index 5adfe4d..457ec5c 100644
--- a/Lib/logging/config.py
+++ b/Lib/logging/config.py
@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@
         klass = eval(klass, vars(logging))
         args = cp.get(sectname, "args")
         args = eval(args, vars(logging))
-        h = apply(klass, args)
+        h = klass(*args)
         if "level" in opts:
             level = cp.get(sectname, "level")
             h.setLevel(logging._levelNames[level])
diff --git a/Lib/plat-mac/gensuitemodule.py b/Lib/plat-mac/gensuitemodule.py
index 87132c5..03d38f6 100644
--- a/Lib/plat-mac/gensuitemodule.py
+++ b/Lib/plat-mac/gensuitemodule.py
@@ -351,11 +351,11 @@
 
 def generic(what, f, *args):
     if type(what) == types.FunctionType:
-        return apply(what, (f,) + args)
+        return what(f, *args)
     if type(what) == types.ListType:
         record = []
         for thing in what:
-            item = apply(generic, thing[:1] + (f,) + thing[1:])
+            item = generic(thing[:1], f, *thing[1:])
             record.append((thing[1], item))
         return record
     return "BAD GENERIC ARGS: %r" % (what,)
diff --git a/Lib/subprocess.py b/Lib/subprocess.py
index 9cb03bc..6827244 100644
--- a/Lib/subprocess.py
+++ b/Lib/subprocess.py
@@ -995,7 +995,7 @@
                         os.chdir(cwd)
 
                     if preexec_fn:
-                        apply(preexec_fn)
+                        preexec_fn()
 
                     if env is None:
                         os.execvp(executable, args)
diff --git a/Lib/test/crashers/infinite_rec_4.py b/Lib/test/crashers/infinite_rec_4.py
deleted file mode 100644
index 14f1520..0000000
--- a/Lib/test/crashers/infinite_rec_4.py
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,7 +0,0 @@
-
-# http://python.org/sf/1202533
-
-if __name__ == '__main__':
-    lst = [apply]
-    lst.append(lst)
-    apply(*lst)      # segfault: infinite recursion in C
diff --git a/Lib/test/test_builtin.py b/Lib/test/test_builtin.py
index 4f10d92..6f11fdd 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_builtin.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_builtin.py
@@ -153,32 +153,6 @@
         S = [10, 20, 30]
         self.assertEqual(any(x > 42 for x in S), False)
 
-    def test_apply(self):
-        def f0(*args):
-            self.assertEqual(args, ())
-        def f1(a1):
-            self.assertEqual(a1, 1)
-        def f2(a1, a2):
-            self.assertEqual(a1, 1)
-            self.assertEqual(a2, 2)
-        def f3(a1, a2, a3):
-            self.assertEqual(a1, 1)
-            self.assertEqual(a2, 2)
-            self.assertEqual(a3, 3)
-        apply(f0, ())
-        apply(f1, (1,))
-        apply(f2, (1, 2))
-        apply(f3, (1, 2, 3))
-
-        # A PyCFunction that takes only positional parameters should allow an
-        # empty keyword dictionary to pass without a complaint, but raise a
-        # TypeError if the dictionary is non-empty.
-        apply(id, (1,), {})
-        self.assertRaises(TypeError, apply, id, (1,), {"foo": 1})
-        self.assertRaises(TypeError, apply)
-        self.assertRaises(TypeError, apply, id, 42)
-        self.assertRaises(TypeError, apply, id, (42,), 42)
-
     def test_callable(self):
         self.assert_(callable(len))
         def f(): pass