Actually, update: Calling $scope.proposal is calling my ProposalLoader() service by way that $scope.proposal = proposal and proposal is the return of ProposalLoader(). Maybe this is normal to have to add the $get(), but all ProposalLoader() does is get(), so the fact I had to add the $get() is just throwing me (and took me hours to figure out). It's an interesting sub-story into how to call these resources, ngResource-related in this case.