public SortedMultiset<E> create(Object... entries) {
                @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
                // we dangerously assume E is a string
                List<E> extremeValues = (List<E>) getExtremeValues();
                @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
                // map generators must past entry objects
                List<E> normalValues = (List<E>) asList(entries);