gumby

   [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.")

[glossary]