gumby
 /guhm'bee/, n.

    [from a class of Monty Python characters, poss. with some influence from
    the 1960s claymation character]

    1. An act of minor but conspicuous stupidity, often in gumby maneuver or
    pull a gumby.

    2. [NRL] n. A bureaucrat, or other technical incompetent who impedes the
    progress of real work.

    3. adj. Relating to things typically associated with people in sense 2.
    (e.g. ?Ran would be writing code, but Richard gave him gumby work that's
    due on Friday?, or, ?Dammit! Travel screwed up my plane tickets. I have to
    go out on gumby patrol.?)