gistfile1.js

angular.module('app')
	.config(function($routeProvider) {
		$routeProvider
			.when('/:foo', {
				controller: 'MainCtrl'
			});
	});

angular
	.module('app')
	.controller('MainCtrl', MainCtrl);
	
function MainCtrl(config, $scope, $http, $rootScope, $log, $sce, $routeParams, Socket){

	/* This is what I *have* to do! */
	
	var stuff = function(stuff){
		$log.info('funciton says', stuff);
	}
	
	$scope.$on('$routeChangeSuccess', function() {
		stuff($routeParams.foo);
	});

  /* this is what I *should* be able to do but doens't work! */
	var foo = $routeParams.foo;
	$log.info('foo', foo);
}