I will show my code. This is my first time working with threads. So I
just thought I would do something simple and i want the MERRY
CHRISTMAS!  .. to be painted green. then using a thread I want to make
it flash red. with a delay of 1 second. so it will flash red and green
every 1 second. I tried looking up examples but I can't get it to work.
It compiles just fine but it just stays green. if someone can tell me
what I have to do so it will use the thread and flash red and green
that would be great. Thanks!

// program to demonstrate the use of sound in an applet

import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.event.*;
import java.applet.*;
import java.util.*;

public class snow extends Applet implements Runnable
{

    Thread thread1;

    // initialize an array of descriptions

    Image bear, penguin, bird, zebra;

    Button button1;
    Button button2;

    // override init method to display the images

    public void init()
    {

            if (thread1==null)
            {
                thread1 = new Thread(this);
                thread1.start();
            }

        setLayout(null);
        setBackground(new Color(135,206,250));

        // create buttons

        //button1 = new Button("Smile");
    //    button1.setLocation(150, 500);
    //    button1.setSize(60,40);
    //    button1.setForeground(Color.black);
    //    button1.setBackground(Color.red);
    //    button1.addActionListener(this);
    //    add(button1);

    //    button2 = new Button("Frown");
    //    button2.setLocation(375, 500);
    //    button2.setSize(60,40);
    //    button2.setForeground(Color.black);
    //    button2.setBackground(Color.red);
    //    button2.addActionListener(this);
    //    add(button2);

        Font font = new Font("Monospaced",Font.BOLD,34);
    }

    // display images on the screen

    public void paint(Graphics g)
    {

        Font font = new Font("Monospaced",Font.BOLD,34);
        g.setColor(Color.white);
        g.fill3DRect(0,560,600,50,true);
        g.setColor(Color.white);
        g.fillArc(0, 555, 50, 50, 0, 360);
        g.setColor(Color.white);
        g.fillArc(100, 555, 400, 400, 0, 360);
        g.setColor(Color.white);
        g.fillArc(200, 555, 500, 500, 0, 360);
        g.setColor(Color.white);
        g.fillArc(100, 375, 200, 200, 0, 360);
        g.setColor(Color.white);
        g.fillArc(110, 225, 175, 175, 0, 360);
        g.setColor(Color.white);
        g.fillArc(120, 95, 150, 150, 0, 360);
        g.setColor(Color.black);
        g.fillArc(160, 130, 10, 10, 0, 360);
        g.setColor(Color.black);
        g.fillArc(215, 130, 10, 10, 0, 360);
        g.setColor(Color.ORANGE);
        g.fillArc(187, 165, 10, 10, 0, 180);
        g.setColor(Color.black);
        g.fillArc(187, 190, 10, 10, 0, 360);
        g.setColor(Color.black);
        g.fillArc(177, 188, 10, 10, 0, 360);
        g.setColor(Color.black);
        g.fillArc(197, 188, 10, 10, 0, 360);

        g.setColor(Color.black);
        g.fillArc(167, 186, 10, 10, 0, 360);
        g.setColor(Color.black);
        g.fillArc(207, 186, 10, 10, 0, 360);

            g.setColor(new Color(139,101,8));
            g.drawLine(280,300,350,225);
            g.drawLine(325,250,350,280);
            g.drawLine(325,250,300,220);

            g.drawLine(115,300,45,225);
            g.drawLine(70, 250,45,280);
            g.drawLine(70, 250,95,220);
            g.setColor(new Color(34, 139, 34));
            g.setFont(font);
            g.drawString("MERRY CHRISTMAS!", 275,125);
        }

    // use an implementation of the actionPerformed method taken
    // from the ActionListener abstract class

    public void run()
    {
        while (true)
        {
            Graphics g = getGraphics();
            g.setColor(Color.red);
            g.drawString("MERRY CHRISTMAS!", 275,125);

            repaint();

            try{Thread.sleep(1000);}
            catch(InterruptedException i) {System.exit(1);}
        }

    }

    public void destroy()
    {
        if (thread1 !=null)
        {
            thread1.stop();
            thread1 = null;
        }
    }
}