Can't figure out author search

I'm completely baffled by the "author search" feature.  

I hit "a" and enter a string.  Then, AFAICT, slrn flips a coin:
heads it says "Not found.", tails it picks an article at
random.

I can't see any correlation between the string I enter and what
happens next.  I can search for authors plainly visible, and it
says "Not found".  Other times it will pick out an article that
clearly doesn't contain the search string in the From: line (or
anywhere else I can see).

-- 
Grant Edwards                   grante             Yow! Are we live or on
                                  at               tape?
                               visi.com            


-------------------------------------------------------------------------
This SF.net email is sponsored by the 2008 JavaOne(SM) Conference 
Don't miss this year's exciting event. There's still time to save $100. 
Use priority code J8TL2D2. 
http://ad.doubleclick.net/clk;198757673;13503038;p?http://java.sun.com/javaone