List<Map<String, String>> rows = new LinkedList<Map<String, String>>();
Map<String, String> result = new HashMap<String, String>();
result.put(cfMetaData_.n_columnKey, column.name());
result.put(cfMetaData_.n_columnValue, new String(column.value()));
result.put(cfMetaData_.n_columnTimestamp, Long.toString(column.timestamp()));
rows.add(result);
// at this point, due to the prior checks, we are guaranteed that
// there is only one item in "columns".