Q: my email address that was used to set up my ipod was deactivated by yahoo for inactivity...now i cant access my ipod  with that email address or password..i also dont have my reciept to show that i purchased the ipod from  the apple store either.

Recovery the password and change the ID email address

How do I change or recover a forgotten Apple ID Password?

If you've forgotten your Apple ID Password or want to change it, go to My Apple ID and follow the instructions. See Changing your Apple ID password if you'd like more information.

I no longer have an email address that was also my Apple ID. Can I still use the email address as my Apple ID?

Apple recommends you change your Apple ID to your current, working email address. This will not create another Apple ID, it will only change it to your working email address. See Changing the name you use for your Apple ID if you'd like more information.

If necessary:

Forgotten Security Questions/Answers

You need to contact Apple by:

1 - Using this form

Apple - Support -form iTunes Store - Contact Us

2 - Call Apple in your country by getting the number from here:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HE57

1. 3. Contact Apple by:          

Apple ID: Contacting Apple for help with Apple ID account security

For general  information see:

Apple ID: All about Apple ID security questions

The email address used for an Apple ID does not have to be a currently used address. All you need is the email address and then the password you used for the Apple ID, unless your device is disabled for some reason, or you cannot remember your Apple ID password. It is not the email password.

If you set up a rescue email address then you could try to recover that password, but that would also require you to remember your security questions and answers. So are you unable to activate the device after restoring it? All you should need to do if you cannot remember your passcode is to restore. But I'm not sure if this is Activation Lock.

If the iPod has iOS 7 or later yo have to enter the Apple ID/iCloud ID last used for Settings>iCloud on the iPod in order to activate the iPod. My previous reply said how to recover the password for the account and then later change the contact email address to a working email address.