We might need a new oven. Maybe.

Over the past two weeks, we’ve noticed that the oven can’t keep a steady temperature. One minute it’s at 400. Ten minutes later it’s at 350. There’s no consistency.

We had been monitoring an internal thermometer that we have clipped to one of the racks. As an initial test, we bought a new thermometer. And guess what? When the oven is set at 400, the new thermometer reads 400 while the old one fluctuates.

The oven still might have problems. We’ll have to see. But what we know now is that we’re likely getting more accurate measurements.

In a broader sense, it’s a good lesson to check the accuracy of our methods of measurement.

Likes on Instagram. Applause. Verbal praise. Gallery sales. Commissions. Email replies.

All of these are measurements, but none is guaranteed to be accurate.