code: def log(self,phrase):
          
          pass
          t = datetime.now()
          if phrase in self.items.keys():
              s = str(t) + ' finished: ' + str(phrase) + " took: " + \
                  str(t - self.items[phrase]) + '\n'
              if self.echo:
                  print(s,end='')
              if self.filename:
                  self.f.write(s)
                  self.f.flush()
              self.items.pop(phrase)
          else:
              s = str(t) + ' starting: ' + str(phrase) + '\n'
              if self.echo:
                  print(s,end='')
              if self.filename:
                  self.f.write(s)
                  self.f.flush()
              self.items[phrase] = copy.deepcopy(t)
docs: log something that happened.  The first time phrase is passed the
          start time is saved.  The second time the phrase is logged, the
          elapsed time is written
  
          Parameters
          ----------
              phrase : str
                  the thing that happened