code: function normalizeParameters(list)
  {
      list = _.toArray(list);
      return _.reduce(list, function(args, value, index)
      {
          if (_.isObject(value) && !Array.isArray(value))
          {
              var options     = args.options,
                  timestamp   = value.timestamp,
                  consistency = value.consistency || value.consistencyLevel;
  
              if (_.isDate(timestamp))
                  options.timestamp = timestamp;
              if (consistency)
                  options.consistency = consistency;
  
              _.defaults(options, value);
          }
          else if (index < 2)
              args[index ? 'subcolumn' : 'column'] = value;
          return args;
      }, {
          key: list.shift(),
          options:
          {
              timestamp: new Date(),
              consistency: DEFAULT_WRITE_CONSISTENCY
          }
      });
  }
docs: A convenience method to normalize the standard parameters used by
  a thrift operation. The parameter list must contain a `key` parameter
  as its first item.  The `column`, `subcolumn`, `options`, and
  `callback` parameters are optional.
  @param {Array} list The list of parameters
  @private
  @memberOf ColumnFamily
  @returns {Object} a normalized version of the provided parameter values