Как я включаю манипулятор палки в Ubuntu?

для gui решения

$ sudo apt-get install gpointing-device-settings
$ gpointing-device-settings

для командной строки

$ xinput list
# find your device name there
$ xinput list-props "PointingStick" # the name can be different
# this will list available settings for that pointing stick
$ xinput set-*-prop "PointingStick" ...
# to set a property, see man page for more how to set properties

an example how to set it for thinkpad
$ xinput set-int-prop '"TPPS/2 IBM TrackPoint"' "Evdev Wheel Emulation" 8 1
$ xinput set-int-prop '"TPPS/2 IBM TrackPoint"' "Evdev Wheel Emulation Button" 8 2
$ xinput set-int-prop '"TPPS/2 IBM TrackPoint"' "Evdev Wheel Emulation Timeout" 8 200

to disable device
$ xinput set-int-prop "TPPS/2 IBM TrackPoint" "Device Enabled" 8 0
to enable 
$ xinput set-int-prop "TPPS/2 IBM TrackPoint" "Device Enabled" 8 1

Для получения дополнительной информации посмотрите это и это.