VERY PECULIAR PROBLEM

Hi to all, I don't know what is wrong with the following method. It is a m=
ethod inside a Timer class that extends Thread. The peculiar problem is th=
at IF i include the System.out.print(""); line in the method, the program w=
orks FINE, if however I delete the System.out.print(""); methods or REM it =
out, the program doesn't count time? How Could that one line which does NO=
THING cause the entire program to function correctly?

 public void run(){
        long timeStamp = System.currentTimeMillis();
        
        while(true){
            if(timeStamp + 1000 <= System.currentTimeMillis()){
                timeStamp = System.currentTimeMillis();
                
                System.out.print("");
                if(this.paused==false){
                    this.secCount++;
                    
                    this.hrs = (int)this.secCount / 3600;
                    this.min = (int)(((int)(this.secCount % 3600))/60);
                    this.sec = (int)this.secCount % 60;
                    
                    if(this.debug) System.out.println("Timer: "+this.hrs+":=
"+this.min+":"+this.sec);
                }
            }
        }
    }

Much thanks for any ideas, I have NO IDEA why a System.out.print statement =
could impact the functioning of this program to such an extent?
Doug