@classmethod
def status(cls, name, value):
    """
        starts a timer with the given name.

        :param name: the name of the timer
        :type name: string
        :param status: the name of a status
        :type status: bool

        """
    if cls.debug:
        print('Timer', name, 'status', value)
    cls.timer_status[name] = value
