hbase_timestamp.rb

  # Return a timestamp from an HBase cell
  # [cell] the cell itself or its contents
  def self.time_from_hbase(cell)
    # unpack 8 bytes in network (big endian) byte order
    if cell.respond_to? :value
      a = cell.value
    else
      a = cell
    end
    halves = a.unpack "NN"
    millis = (halves[0] << 32) + halves[1]
    Time.at(millis / 1000)
  end