gumby

gumby /guhm'bee/ n.  [from a class of Monty Python
   characters, poss. with some influence from the 1960s claymation
   character] 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.")