// against a fixed value and returns true if "near"
public boolean isHighlighted(Component renderer,
ComponentAdapter adapter) {
if (compare == null) return false;
if (!(adapter.getValue() instanceof Contributor)) return false;
Contributor contributor = (Contributor) adapter.getValue();
return contributor.getMerits() >= compare.getMerits() - 5 &&
contributor.getMerits() <= compare.getMerits() + 5;
}